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Pirates hand ball to Correia at Houston

Jul 17, 2011 - 3:08 PM (Sports Network) - All-Star Kevin Correia has sparkled on the road and today the Pirates turn to the right-hander to hopefully take the finale of a three- game road series against the Houston Astros.

Correia has gone 9-2 with a 2.71 ERA in his 11 road starts, leading the majors in road wins. He has won three of his last four starts and is one win shy of his career-high of 12 set in 2009. Additionally, he is looking to become the first Pirate to win 12 games in a season since Tom Gorzelanny in 2007 (14-10).

In his most recent start, July 9 against the Cubs, Correia was pulled after allowing nine hits and five runs in 3 2/3 innings of a 6-3 loss. He's 0-1 with a 3.64 ERA in eight games (4 starts) against the Astros.

Wandy Rodriguez started Houston's last game before the All-Star break and received the loss after allowing five runs on five hits in 5 1/3 innings in a road defeat to the Marlins. He's 7-5 with a 4.10 ERA in 15 games against the Pirates. That includes a 5-1 loss on July 5 at Pittsburgh when he gave up five runs in six innings.

Last night, Humberto Quintero singled in the go-ahead run in Houston's three- run eighth inning, as the Astros came back to beat the Pirates, 6-4, to snap a five-game slide.

The Pirates, who started the day atop the NL Central, came back from a 3-0 deficit before blowing the lead in the eighth.

Jose Veras (2-3) absorbed the loss after yielding three runs -- two earned -- while recording just one out.

Jeff Keppinger belted a two-run homer, while Michael Bourn added three hits and drove in a run for the Astros.

Neil Walker went 4-for-5 with a home run and two RBI, while Lyle Overbay and Brandon Wood also went deep for the Pirates, who had won three of four coming in.

Pittsburgh was in first place this late in the season for the first time since 1997, but fell a game behind the Cardinals in the division as a result of St. Louis beating the Reds on Saturday.

Pittsburgh is 8-3 this season against the Astros and swept a three-game set at Minute Maid Park in its last visit from June 14-16.