• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Astros continue pursuit of first in NL Central

Sep 27, 2006 - 4:03 PM Houston (79-78) at Pittsburgh (65-92) 7:05 pm EDT

PITTSBURGH (Ticker) -- The Houston Astros try to keep the pressure on the St. Louis Cardinals in the National League Central when they face the Pittsburgh Pirates in the second meeting of a three-game series on Wednesday.

With their seventh straight win - a 7-4 triumph over the Pirates on Tuesday - the Astros moved within 1 1/2 games of the sliding Cardinals, who have lost seven in a row, in the NL Central. Houston won four straight over St. Louis in a series last weekend.

Craig Biggio drove in three runs and Luke Scott had two hits for the Astros, who will hand the ball to rookie Jason Hirsh (3-4, 5.83 ERA) in Wednesday's matchup.

The 6-8 righthander gave up four runs and five hits in 4 2/3 innings, but did not factor in the outcome of a 6-5 win over the Cards last Friday.

Hirsh beat Pittsburgh, 13-1, on August 27. He allowed just a run and five hits in seven frames.

Houston will once again try to get the best of Shawn Chacon (2-3, 5.09). The righthander is 0-2 this year in as many starts against the Astros with a whopping 18.00 ERA.

However, Chacon won his last start, a 6-4 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers a week ago. He surrendered four runs - two earned - and six hits in 6 2/3 innings.

Jason Bay hit his 35th homer and Freddy Sanchez had four hits for the Pirates, who have lost five straight games.