Final
Streaking Pirates best Astros on 9th-inning error
May 18, 2013 - 5:27 AM Pittsburgh, PA (Sports Network) - Jimmy Paredes was charged with an error that allowed the winning run to score with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning as the Pittsburgh Pirates slipped past the Houston Astros, 5-4, in the opener of a three-game interleague set at PNC Park.With Houston's Edgar Gonzalez (0-1) on the hill and two down and the bases loaded, Russell Martin popped up the right-hander's 2-2 offering into right field, where Paredes and second baseman Jake Elmore bumped into each other. The ball fell to the ground and Travis Snider easily crossed home plate.
Hector Ambriz blew the save for the Astros in the eighth, issuing a two-run homer to Pedro Alvarez which tied the game.
"Our defense has been one of our strong suits pretty much the whole year," Houston manager Bo Porter said. "But tonight, we did not play good defense and we put our self in a position where it cost us the ballgame."
Andrew McCutchen was a triple shy of the cycle, finishing with three hits for Pittsburgh, winners of four straight and seven of eight overall. Justin Wilson (4-0) picked up the win after working around a walk in the top of the ninth.
"It's unbelievable," Alvarez said. "That's baseball."
Matt Dominguez hit a two-run home run for the Astros, losers in seven of their last eight.
With one down in the ninth, McCutchen singled to right, moving Snider to third base. Brandon Inge then hit a slow-roller back to the mound, but Gonzalez juggled the exchange and all runners where safe. Neil Walker struck out to make two outs with the bases loaded before Martin's harmless bloop scored the eventual game-winner.
Pittsburgh trailed 4-2 heading into the eighth, but rallied versus Ambriz. Walker advanced to second on a wild pitch, and reached third on Martin's fly out to center. Alvarez didn't waste any time, as he took the first pitch he saw well over the right field bleachers and one-hopped into the Allegheny River, tying the game at 4-4.
In the fifth, Pittsburgh starter Jeanmar Gomez served up a one-out solo homer to Dominguez to give the Astros a 2-1 lead. Gomez forced two outs with a runner on second, but things quickly got worse.
Robbie Grossman drew a walk and Elmore came through with an RBI single to make it 3-1. Houston added another run as Elmore tried to swipe second with Jason Castro at the plate, but Martin was charged with an error after throwing a low attempt to get Elmore. Walker corralled the ball, though, his throwing error to home allowed Grossman to score and make it 4-1.
The Pirates got one run back in the sixth and forced Houston starter Jordan Lyles out of the game. McCutchen popped up a seemingly innocent shallow fly to right before Houston's Chris Carter had the ball bounce off his glove and allow McCutchen to advance to third with the error. Garrett Jones, Lyles' last batter faced, smacked a double down the right-field line to bring Pittsburgh within 4-2.
Houston took an early 1-0 lead. Grossman doubled to open the contest, advanced to third on Elmore's sacrifice bunt, and scored on Castro's deep fly to center.
"We never give up, we are a resilient group." Added Alvarez.
Lyles, though, labored through the home half of the first, tossing 32 pitches. The third batter he faced, McCutchen, crushed his 0-1 offering over the left- center wall to tie the game.
Game Notes
Houston officially announced the hiring of Reid Ryan as the team's new president of business operations on Friday ... Houston's Lyles tossed five- plus innings, allowing two runs -- one earned -- and striking out four. He entered the game going 0-4 with a 7.77 ERA in five starts against the Pirates in his career ... Gomez gave up four runs, three earned, on five hits over 4 2/3 innings.
- HOUSTON: 4
PITTSBURGH: 5
Final
May 17 10:41 PM - Russell Martin reached first on Jimmy Paredes's fielding error, scoring Travis Snider with two outs to win the game.
Astros 4, Pirates 5 Bot 9, 2 OutsMay 17 10:39 PM - Pedro Alvarez one-out, two-run Home Run (7) to right scored Neil Walker. Tony Watson due up.
Astros 4, Pirates 4 Bot 8, 1 OutMay 17 10:03 PM - Garrett Jones double to right scored Andrew McCutchen with none out. Runner on second and Neil Walker due up.
Astros 4, Pirates 2 Bot 6, 0 OutsMay 17 8:58 PM - Jake Elmore stole second, and advances to third on Russell Martin's throwing error. On the play, Robbie Grossman scored on Neil Walker's throwing error. Runner on third with two outs and Jason Castro at the plate.
Astros 4, Pirates 1 Top 5, 2 OutsMay 17 8:32 PM - Jake Elmore single to right scored Marwin Gonzalez with two outs. On the play, Robbie Grossman advances to third. Runners on first and third and Jason Castro due up.
Astros 3, Pirates 1 Top 5, 2 OutsMay 17 8:28 PM - Matt Dominguez one-out, solo Home Run (3) to left. Marwin Gonzalez due up.
Astros 2, Pirates 1 Top 5, 1 OutMay 17 8:18 PM - Andrew McCutchen two-out, solo Home Run (6) to center. Garrett Jones due up.
Astros 1, Pirates 1 Bot 1, 2 OutsMay 17 7:19 PM - Jason Castro sacrifice fly to center scored Robbie Grossman with two outs. None on and Chris Carter due up.
Astros 1, Pirates 0 Top 1, 2 OutsMay 17 7:10 PM - HOUSTON: 0
PITTSBURGH: 0
Top 1, 0 Outs
May 17 7:07 PM
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