Final
Karstens goes for Bucs in Houston
Jul 27, 2012 - 3:08 PMVideo
A 29-year-old right-hander, Karstens was 0-1 with a 4.50 earned run average through his initial three starts of 2012 before shoulder and hip injuries sent him to the disabled list and shelved him for more than two months.
He's made five starts since returning and is 3-0 in the last four while trimming the ERA down to a respectable 3.52.
In his last outing, on July 22 against Miami, he tossed seven shutout innings in the Pirates' 3-0 win while walking two and striking out three.
Karstens performed similarly in his last matchup with the Astros on July 5, this time going eight scoreless innings with four hits allowed and eight strikeouts in a 2-0 triumph.
In nine career meetings with Houston, he's 5-2 with a stingy 2.83 ERA.
In Thursday's opener, A.J. Burnett pitched into the eighth inning and Starling Marte homered in his first major-league at-bat, helping Pittsburgh to a 5-3 win.
Burnett (12-3) served up two solo homers among four hits while fanning five over 7 1/3 innings. Joel Hanrahan survived a shaky final frame to earn his 30th save.
"The guys came out swinging," Burnett said. "It's always good to have that. It takes a little pressure off you."
Clint Barmes and Garrett Jones each added a two-run shot for the Pirates, who have won seven of nine.
Recalled from Triple-A Indianapolis prior to the game, Marte finished 2-for-4 in his big-league debut.
He became just the third Pirate to homer in his first plate appearance. Walter Mueller did it first on May 7, 1922 and Don Leppert was the last, on June 18, 1961.
Chris Johnson homered and drove in two for the Astros, who dropped their 10th straight.
Dallas Keuchel (1-3) was dented for five runs and five hits over six full frames in defeat.
Houston sends righty Jordan Lyles to the mound in search of his first victory in a month.
The 21-year-old won his second game of 2012 in June 26 against San Diego after allowing a run on six hits in 6 1/3 innings.
He's 0-3 in four starts since - including an 11-2 loss at Pittsburgh on July 2 in which he was touched for seven runs on nine hits in four innings.
Lyles, who won twice in 10 decisions while appearing in 20 games for the Astros last season, is 0-2 against the Pirates with a 9.31 ERA.
The Pirates lost the first 2012 meeting between the teams on May 11, but have since won six straight - all in Pittsburgh. They won five of nine games in Houston last year while taking the season series, 11-7.
The Astros last won the season series in 2010.
- PITTSBURGH: 6
HOUSTON: 5
Final
Jul 27 11:26 PM - J.D. Martinez singled to center scoring Chris Johnson with one out. Runner on first and Justin Maxwell due up.
Pirates 4, Astros 5 Bot 7, 1 OutJul 27 10:16 PM - Pinch-Hitter Josh Harrison sacrifice fly to left scored Michael McKenry with two out. None on and Starling Marte due up.
Pirates 4, Astros 4 Top 7, 2 OutsJul 27 10:09 PM - Michael McKenry none-out, two-run Home Run (9) to left scored Pedro Alvarez. Clint Barmes due up.
Pirates 3, Astros 4 Top 5, 0 OutsJul 27 9:17 PM - Ben Francisco lead-off Home Run (1) to left. Chris Snyder due up.
Pirates 1, Astros 4 Bot 4, 0 OutsJul 27 9:04 PM - Andrew McCutchen doubled to center. Runner on second with one out and Garrett Jones due up.
Pirates 1, Astros 3 Top 4, 1 OutJul 27 8:58 PM - Chris Johnson lead-off Home Run (8) to left. Scott Moore due up.
Pirates 0, Astros 3 Bot 3, 0 OutsJul 27 8:48 PM - Jordan Lyles sacrifice bunt scored Justin Maxwell with one out. Lyles safe at first. On the play, Ben Francisco advanced to second. Runners on first and second with Jose Altuve due up.
Pirates 0, Astros 2 Bot 2, 1 OutJul 27 8:35 PM - Ben Francisco singled to center scoring J.D. Martinez with none out. On the play, Justin Maxwell advances to third. Runners on first and third with Chris Snyder due up.
Pirates 0, Astros 1 Bot 2, 0 OutsJul 27 8:29 PM - PITTSBURGH: 0
HOUSTON: 0
Top 1, 0 Outs
Jul 27 8:06 PM
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