• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers
• Game Tracker

Pirates defeat Astros in extras

Jul 18, 2011 - 12:07 AM Houston, TX (Sports Network) - Humberto Quintero's passed ball opened the door to three Pittsburgh runs in the 11th inning, as the Pirates topped Houston, 7- 5, in the finale of a three-game set from Minute Maid Park.

With runners on the corners and one out, Quintero let a Mark Melancon (5-3) offering slip to the backstop, allowing Josh Harrison to score the visitors' lead run. Alex Presley followed with an RBI single and a throwing error on Aneury Rodriguez later in the frame brought in Presley with the Bucs' final tally.

Quintero atoned for his gaffe with a two-out homer in the bottom half of the frame to cut Houston's deficit to 7-5, but Jason Michaels flied out to end the contest, allowing Chris Resop to snag his first career save.

"I know when it goes extra innings, that anybody could be down there," Resop said. "I was told if we went ahead I was gonna get the call. If we stayed tied, Leroux was going to stay out there."

Chris Leroux (1-0) tossed a scoreless 10th inning for his first career win.

Presley finished with three hits and three RBI for the Pirates, who have won seven of their last 10 games to keep pace in the hunt for first place in the NL Central. The Bucs ended Sunday tied with St. Louis, one-half game behind first-place Milwaukee.

Starter Kevin Correia added a two-run double while allowing five hits and three runs over six innings.

Jeff Keppinger totaled three hits, two RBI and scored three times for the Astros, who have dropped 11 of 13 games in July.

Wandy Rodriguez tied a career-best with 11 strikeouts over his 5 1/3 innings, but yielded eight hits and four runs.

Keppinger doubled with two out in the home first and scored when Hunter Pence followed with a base hit.

The Pirates forged ahead in the second. Lyle Overbay doubled and Eric Fryer was given a free pass before Correia knocked in both with a double.

Houston struck back in the third thanks to a two-run blast from Keppinger after a Clint Barmes single, but lost manager Brad Mills to ejection after arguing balls and strikes.

Pittsburgh countered in the fourth on a Presley RBI single which scored Brandon Wood.

Wood doubled to lead off the sixth and scored on a Presley double to give the Bucs a 4-3 edge, but the Astros countered in the eighth on Chris Johnson's double which drove in Keppinger.

"Keppy has continued to swing the bat well, Hunter had some knocks, and CJ with a big one to tie the game and get us to extra innings ad give us a chance to win," said Mills about his club's resilience.

Game Notes

Pittsburgh upped its record to 22-13 vs Central and won 13 of last 17 games against division foes...Pirates second baseman Neil Walker extended hit streak to 11 games, most by a Bucs player this year...Correia posted his third career multi-RBI game...For Mills, it was his fifth ejection this year and first since June 28...Rodriguez last fanned 11 men on July 8, 2009 against the Pirates.