• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers
• Game Tracker

Lee helps Astros edge Pirates in return

May 7, 2011 - 4:18 AM Pittsburgh, PA (Sports Network) - Carlos Lee provided an immediate impact in his return to the lineup, driving home the go-ahead run in the eighth inning to lift the Houston Astros to a 3-2 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates in the opener of a three-game series at PNC Park.

Hunter Pence knocked in the other two runs for Houston, which had lost two games in a row. Astros starter Wandy Rodriguez (2-3) gave up two runs on five hits over seven innings.

Paul Maholm limited Houston to one run on five hits and walked three in seven full frames, but did not factor in the decision after the Pittsburgh bullpen faltered.

The Pirates had seized the lead when Neil Walker belted a tiebreaking home run to leadoff the bottom of the seventh.

Chris Resop (1-1) replaced Maholm in the eighth and failed to retire both batters he faced. Michael Bourn led off with a walk, stole second and scored on a double by Pence. Lee, who missed the previous three games with a contusion of his left rib cage sustained in a collision with shortstop Angel Sanchez on Sunday, then greeted Jose Veras with a single to left field.

The Pirates put a runner on third in the bottom of the frame, but Fernando Abad struck out pinch-hitter Garrett Jones to preserve the one-run lead.

Mark Melancon tossed a 1-2-3 ninth to notch his first career save.

"We put a good inning together and our bullpen held it down," Bourn said.

Houston scratched out a run in the first inning on a Pence sacrifice fly. Pittsburgh had scored first in each of its last nine games.

The Pirates did get on the board in the fifth after Lyle Overbay and Brandon Wood stroked consecutive two-out doubles.

"We've just got to keep pushing forward and keep battling until we can bust out and have some more consistency on offense at home," said Pirates manager Clint Hurdle.

Game Notes

Jason Bourgeois collected three of Houston's nine hits...The Astros were 4- for-14 with runners in scoring position...Pittsburgh returned home after a 4-2 road trip.