• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Pirates still seeking first home win

Apr 24, 2007 - 2:09 PM Houston (9-8) at Pittsburgh (7-10) 7:05 pm EDT

PITTSBURGH (Ticker) -- The Pittsburgh Pirates still look to pick up their first home victory of the season when they host the Houston Astros on Tuesday.

The Pirates have dropped all four games they've played at PNC Park this season and are the only team in the majors that has not won a game on their home field. The Astros have played well on the road to this point, posting a 6-3 record away from Minute Maid Park.

Paul Maholm (0-2, 6.19 ERA) will start for Pittsburgh, which has lost all three games started by the lefthander this season. Maholm started four games against Houston last season and went 1-2 with a 6.53 ERA.

Houston counters with Woody Williams (0-2, 6.55) who is still looking for his first victory of the season. This will be the fifth start of the season for the righthander, who allowed six runs in six innings last Thursday against the Cincinnati Reds. He did not get a decision as the Astros rallied late for an 8-6 win.

Lance Berkman, who has a .302 career batting average spanning nine seasons, is batting just .207 (12-for-58) for the Astros, who are one of two teams not to hit a triple this season.

Adam LaRoche is batting .105 (6-for-57) for the Pirates, but is tied with for the team lead in home runs with three.

The Astros dominated the season series with Pittsburgh a year ago, winning 13-of-16 meetings. However, the Pirates swept a three-game series in Houston to open this season.