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ANAHEIM, Calif. - Just when the Houston Astros figured everybody in baseball had pretty much forgotten about them, theyve started to pull off some attention-grabbing feats. After a perfect road trip, the low-budget club with the ALs worst record is heading home with the majors longest active winning streak. Chris Carter homered, Erik Bedard pitched seven strong innings for his first victory of the season, and the last-place Astros completed a four-game sweep of the Los Angeles Angels with a 2-1 victory Monday night. Brandon Barnes drove in the go-ahead run in the sixth inning as the Astros finished their unblemished six-game trip with their seventh win over the big-money Angels in 10 meetings this season. The Astros completed their longest perfect road trip since 1999 despite managing only three hits and four baserunners — and one was picked off. "Everybody takes pride in winning and playing as a team, and guys are playing great right now," said Carter, who hit his fifth homer against the Angels already this season. "Its just about getting big hits in big situations." Houston hadnt won six consecutive games since August 2010, and hadnt won six straight on the road since July 2005. The Astros barely hung on for the latest win in their improbable string, with Jose Veras striking out Hank Conger with two runners on in the ninth for his 11th save. "I feel like were playing really good baseball," Houston manager Bo Porter said. "We had been playing good baseball, but now were starting to win those crucial break points. ... I look at the talent in that room. I know the potential we have. Youre starting to see were coming together. I said it last month: Were going to hit our stride, and were going to start winning some of those games we were losing." The Astros had just enough to hold off Los Angeles, which lost a game despite allowing three hits or fewer for just the fifth time in the last decade. Joe Blanton picked up his AL-worst ninth loss for the Angels despite matching his career high with 11 strikeouts and allowing just three hits in eight outstanding innings. The Angels held a closed-door meeting for 25 minutes after their latest discouraging loss in a season full of them. "Anything can happen in this game, so you cant take the other team for granted," said Albert Pujols, who went 0 for 4. "They have a lot of players who want to prove that they belong up here. We had our pitching matchups set up, and obviously things didnt go our way." Barnes dived to catch Pujols sinking drive to centre with Mike Trout on base to end the eighth. Veras then held on for his third save in the four-game series, giving up Alberto Callaspos two-out double and walking pinch-hitter Josh Hamilton striking out pinch-hitter Conger looking. Bedard (1-2) hadnt won in his last 11 starts dating to last season, but the veteran lefty gave up just five hits and a walk despite entering the night with a career 7.08 ERA at Angel Stadium. Trout drove in the only run for the foundering Angels, who have lost six of eight to erase all momentum from their eight-game winning streak last month. Los Angeles slid back to eight games below .500 with four consecutive losses to the Astros, dropping its record against the rest of the AL West to 9-19. Carters fifth-inning homer was the Astros first hit off Blanton (1-9), who kept mowing down the Astros in his first start with 10 strikeouts in nearly four years. Blanton still matched Philadelphias Cole Hamels for the major league lead in losses. "They executed when they needed to, and we didnt," Blanton said. "They pitched well. Anytime somebody beats you four in a row, youve got to give them credit. Its not all a matter of you playing bad." Hamilton was held out of the Angels starting lineup to give some rest to the slumping $125 million outfielder. Hamilton missed two games last week with back spasms, but the former AL MVP was 2 for 15 on the homestand, and is batting .169 against left-handers this season. Blanton struck out six of the Astros first nine batters. Houstons only baserunner in the first 4 2-3 innings reached on Callaspos throwing error in the third, but Chris Iannetta picked Matt Dominguez off second base moments later. The Angels took the lead in the third when J.B. Shuck doubled down the right-field line, advanced on Erick Aybars single and scored on Trouts flyout. Blanton was firmly in control until Carters homer, striking out the first two batters he faced in the fifth to surpass his season high. But Carter lined a pitch into the bullpens beyond the left-field fence for his 12th homer of the season. Houston went ahead in the sixth when Dominguez doubled, advanced on a bunt and scored on Barnes fly. NOTES: Astros SS Marwin Gonzalez returned after missing four games with a strained hamstring. ... Blanton matched his career-best 11 strikeouts on May 26, 2009, while pitching for Philadelphia against the Marlins. ... OF Peter Bourjos had a triple in the first game of his rehabilitation assignment with Single-A Inland Empire. Out since April 29 with an injured hamstring, the centre fielder is expected to rejoin the Angels this week, bumping Trout back to left field. Oscar Klefbom Oilers Jersey . The Celtics closed out their first preseason under Stevens on Wednesday night with a 101-97 victory over the Brooklyn Nets, who rested a lot of their lineup including former Celtics Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce. Benoit Pouliot Oilers Jersey . -- Its been a long road back for Sean Bergenheim. http://www.hockeyoilersshop.com/jesse-puljujarvi-jersey/ . Westbrook has missed 27 games since having a procedure on Dec. 27 to deal with swelling in his injured right knee — the third operation on the knee in nine months. Jean-Francois Jacques Jersey . The Dutchmans tenure got off to a poor start when referee Guido Winkmann awarded a penalty within two minutes for Niklas Starks clumsy challenge on Alexandru Maxim. Zack Kassian Oilers Jersey . Los Angeles star goalie survived those perilous gymnastics with no problem, and he eventually backstopped the Kings to a skid-snapping win. Quick stopped 27 shots in his return from a 24-game injury absence, Jeff Carter scored the tiebreaking goal with 7:55 to play, and the Kings snapped their five-game losing streak with a 3-1 victory over the Vancouver Canucks on Saturday night. MADISON, Wis. -- J.T. Barrett escaped Wisconsins pressure and shook off a mistake.Ohio States do-it-all quarterback proved his mettle after halftime in the toughest of road environments, accounting for three touchdowns and setting a school record in the process.Barrett threw a 7-yard touchdown pass to leaping receiver Noah Brown in overtime, and the second-ranked Buckeyes finished off the eighth-ranked Badgers with a sack on fourth-and-goal from the 4 for a 30-23 win on Saturday night.Barrett also ran for two touchdowns for the Buckeyes (6-0, 3-0 Big Ten) in a contest that had the intensity of a championship heavyweight bout.That was just two good teams going at each other, Ohio State coach Urban Meyer said.He had the best player on the field on his side.The touchdown throw in overtime gave Barrett his 89th career touchdown passing or rushing, breaking the school record previously held by quarterback Braxton Miller.The Buckeyes rushed the field after defensive end Tyquan Lewis sacked quarterback Alex Hornibrook to end the thriller. Just in time too, after school officials warned fans that severe weather was rolling through the area right before the final play.Ohio State got the ball first in overtime, with Barrett ending the possession with the pass to Brown for the go-ahead score.Barrett finished 17 of 29 for 226 yards with one interception, and ran for 92 yards on 21 carries.We grew up even more this week, Barrett said.Corey Clement ran for 164 yards on 25 carries for Wisconsin (4-2, 1-2) and its revived rushing attack .The Badgers gained chunks of yards in the first half on the Buckeyes vaunted defense, but often had to settle for field goals. They led 16-6 at halftime.It took a little while for Ohio State to get its bearings in the second half.We just had to keep on grinding. This Big Ten football, Barrett said.But Barrett, as usual, led the charge. Wisconsins defense often got to Barrett in the backfield and tried to contain him in the pocket, only to watch him slip away with just enough time to hit big passes.You look at those things ... how can we finish, coach Paul Chryst said. At the same time, you say, `Hats off, hes a heck of a player.THE TAKEAWAYOhio State: Barrett shook off his interception into the end zone during heavy rain early in the third quarter. He hit long pinpoint passes, often on the move, into tight coverrage.dddddddddddd The Buckeyes made it a point to work on the passing game leading into the game after problems last week against Indiana. That work paid off, though it didnt come easy against the Badgers tough defense.Wisconsin: Chryst dug deep into the playbook to throw off the Buckeyes in the first half, running receiver Jazz Peavy on jet sweeps and passing out of tight formations. The Badgers had manageable third-down situations, for the most part, for Hornibrook. Wisconsin picked up another first down in the fourth quarter after faking a run before Hornibrook threw a shovel pass to tight end Troy Fumagalli for 4-yard gain. The offensive-minded Chryst showed creativity that should keep Wisconsins opponents guessing for the rest of the season.This one is tough ... because we didnt come into this one hoping to keep it close, Chryst said. This one hurts tonight.POLL IMPLICATIONSOhio State: The Buckeyes padded their playoff resume, but dont figure to leapfrog top-ranked Alabama in the Top 25 poll on Sunday after the Crimson Tides 39-point win over No. 9 Tennessee.Wisconsin: The Badgers are the best 4-2 team in the nation with a losing record in their conference. Wisconsin also lost two weeks ago to No. 4 Michigan, 14-7, at the Big House. They figure to fall a few spots in the poll, but shouldnt be severely penalized given their admirable performances against top competition.STAT LINESOhio State: Barrett completed passes to eight different receivers. .... RBs Mike Weber and Curtis Samuel each finished with 46 yards rushing.Wisconsin: Hornibrook, a freshman, was 16 of 28 for 214 yards, with a touchdown and an interception. ... Peavy finished with 70 yards on six carries, and 76 yards receiving on four catches, including a 24-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter that gave Wisconsin a 10-0 lead. .... The Badgers outgained the Buckeyes 450-411.UP NEXT:Ohio State: The Buckeyes play the second of two straight night games at a tough road venue when they visit Penn State on Oct. 22.Wisconsin: There is no letup in the schedule with a trip to Iowa up next. The tested Badgers are coming off a stretch of having faced three straight top 10 opponents.---More AP college football: http://www.collegefootball.ap.org ' ' '