Final
Pirates take aim at road sweep of Astros
Jun 16, 2011 - 2:51 PMVideo
Pittsburgh made it two straight over Houston and three in a row overall on Wednesday, when Xavier Paul belted a two-run homer and Neil Walker added three RBI in a 7-3 win.
Paul, who entered the game in the sixth inning, added a double and a single and scored a pair of runs, while Garrett Jones and Andrew McCutchen each had an RBI.
Charlie Morton (7-3) lasted five innings to improve to 5-0 against the National League's Central Division this season. He allowed three runs on eight hits and two walks while striking out three.
The Pirates won their third straight and moved above .500 for the first time since May 9.
For Houston, J.A. Happ allowed two runs over five innings before being spelled by Enerio Del Rosario (0-1), who surrendered three runs in the sixth to suffer the loss.
Michael Bourn went 3-for-4 and Brett Wallace went 2-for-3 with an RBI for the Astros, who have dropped 10 of their last 12.
The Pirates sit fourth in the six-team Central, but only four games behind first-place Milwaukee.
St. Louis has lost five straight and is a game behind the Brewers, while the defending division champion Cincinnati Reds are third, but just 2 1/2 behind.
Right-hander James McDonald takes the mound for the Pirates for his fourth career appearance against Houston.
The 26-year-old has logged 10 innings against the Astros in three previous appearances while allowing 10 hits and five runs with 12 strikeouts.
He got a no-decision in the most recent matchup on May 8, allowing three hits in six scoreless innings of a 5-4 Pirates win.
McDonald evened his 2011 record at 4-4 in his last start, scattering eight hits and allowing two runs in six innings of a 3-2 defeat of the New York Mets.
Houston replies with 20-year-old righty Jordan Lyles, who'll make his fourth big-league start.
Lyles debuted on May 31 at Wrigley Field and allowed five hits and two runs in seven innings of Houston's 7-3 defeat of the Chicago Cubs.
He's 0-1 in two starts since, giving up a combined 13 hits and six runs in 10 1/3 innings against San Diego and Atlanta.
Lyles, then 17, was a supplemental draft pick of the Astros in 2008.
Pittsburgh took two of three from Houston earlier in the year.
- PITTSBURGH: 5
HOUSTON: 4
Final
Jun 16 5:03 PM - Jeff Keppinger singled to center scored Jason Bourgeois. Runner on first with one out and Hunter Pence due up.
Pirates 5, Astros 4 Bot 9, 1 OutJun 16 4:57 PM - Josh Harrison doubled to right scored Neil Walker. On the play, Garrett Jones out at home, right to second to catcher to end the inning.
Pirates 5, Astros 3 Mid 6Jun 16 3:55 PM - Garrett Jones reached first on Michael Bourn's fielding error scored Andrew McCutchen. On the play, Neil Walker advances to third. Runners on first and third with two outs and Josh Harrison due up.
Pirates 4, Astros 3 Top 6, 2 OutsJun 16 3:53 PM - Hunter Pence doubled to left center scored Michael Bourn. Runner on second with one out and Carlos Lee due up.
Pirates 3, Astros 3 Bot 5, 1 OutJun 16 3:29 PM - Carlos Corporan sacrifice fly out to center scored Matt Downs. None on with two outs and Jordan Lyles due up.
Pirates 3, Astros 2 Bot 4, 2 OutsJun 16 3:10 PM - Angel Sanchez grounded out third to first scored Brett Wallace. On the play, Matt Downs advances to third. Runner on third with one out and Carlos Corporan due up.
Pirates 3, Astros 1 Bot 4, 1 OutJun 16 3:10 PM - PITTSBURGH: 0
HOUSTON: 0
Top 1, 0 Outs
Jun 16 2:07 PM
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