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(Sports Network) - One night after rallying for a thrilling victory, the Houston Astros have an opportunity to earn a split of their four-game season- opening series with the San Diego Padres when the teams square off again today at Petco Park.

The Astros were staring at a possible 0-3 start to the year in Wednesday's matchup, but erupted for four runs against all-time saves leader Trevor Hoffman in the top of the ninth inning to pull out a 9-6 win. The big blow was provided by first baseman Lance Berkman, who socked a tie-breaking three-run homer with two outs in the frame.

Hoffman retired the first two Houston hitters before walking pinch-hitter Jose Cruz Jr. and giving up a single to Michael Bourn. Hunter Pence then knocked in Cruz with a base hit to tie the contest at 6-6, and Berkman followed by driving a 3-1 pitch over the center field wall to put the Astros ahead.

Berkman finished 3-for-5 with three runs scored for the Astros, who also received solo homers from Geoff Blum and Ty Wigginton on the evening. Pence and Blum each ended with a pair of hits in the win.

Jose Valverde picked up the victory after pitching the final two innings, although the Houston closer did allow a run in the bottom of the eighth that gave the Padres a 6-5 edge.

Hoffman's blown save was the perennial All-Star's third in his last four chances dating back to last season. The veteran fireman failed to protect a lead against Milwaukee in San Diego's next-to-last game of the 2007 regular season, then surrendered three runs in the 13th inning that lifted Colorado to a 9-8 win over the Padres in a one-game playoff for the National League Wild Card.

Brian Giles went 3-for-4 with three RBI for San Diego, while Adrian Gonzalez and Scott Hairston both homered and amassed two hits each in defeat.

Two pitchers set to make debuts with their respective teams will toe the rubber in the finale, with Randy Wolf getting the call for the Padres opposite Houston's Shawn Chacon.

Wolf signed with San Diego as a free agent after going 9-6 with a 4.73 earned run average for the rival Los Angeles Dodgers before undergoing season-ending surgery in July. The veteran left-hander is 78-66 with a 4.25 ERA over nine seasons with the Dodgers and Philadelphia Phillies.

The 31-year-old Wolf is 4-4 with a 3.98 ERA in 10 lifetime starts against Houston, but did not face the Astros last year.

Chacon spent the majority of the 2007 campaign as a reliever for Pittsburgh and compiled a 5-4 record with a 3.94 ERA in 64 games, only four of which were starts. The 30-year-old right-hander signed a one-year deal with Houston just prior to the start of spring training.

In 18 career appearances (8 starts) versus San Diego, Chacon is 3-1 with a 3.49 ERA and two saves. He started against the Padres last May and racked up 10 strikeouts over seven shutout innings, although he wound up with a no decision.

The Astros stopped a string of three straight losses to the Padres with last night's triumph. San Diego won four of the seven matchups between the clubs a year ago.