Astros 3 - 4 Pirates
Final
  for this game

Astros ready to end dismal road trip

Jun 5, 2008 - 2:00 PM Houston (31-29) at Pittsburgh (28-31) 7:05 p.m. EDT

PITTSBURGH (Ticker) -- The Houston Astros can't wait to end their current nine-game road trip.

The Astros go for the series victory on Thursday when they wrap up a three-game set against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

After claiming an 8-2 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals in the opener of its road trip on May 27, Houston managed just one victory over its next seven games and was outscored 33-10 over that span. The Astros managed just two runs and eight hits in Wednesday's 5-2 loss.

The Astros (31-29) are just 16-20 away from home this season and are seven games behind the first-place Chicago Cubs (38-22) in the National League Central Division.

Brandon Backe (4-6, 4.54 ERA) tries to help the Astros get back in the win column when he takes the mound on Thursday.

Backe allowed five runs and six hits in five innings, walking one while striking out four in a 5-1 loss against the Milwaukee Brewers on Friday. The setback was the 30-year-old righthander's third in his last five starts.

Paul Maholm (3-5, 4.74) counters for the Pirates after snapping a personal three-game losing streak during his last start.

The lefthanded Maholm surrendered just one run and four hits in 6 2/3 innings, earning his first win since April 27 during Saturday's 14-4 victory over the Cardinals.








  • NL
    FINAL
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
    - - - - - - - - - - - -
    HOUSTON 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 9 1
    PITTSBURGH 3 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 x 4 9 1 (FINAL)

    BATTERIES: HOU - BRANDON BACKE, CHRIS SAMPSON (7TH), DOUG BROCAIL (8TH) AND
    BRAD AUSMUS
    PIT - PAUL MAHOLM, MATT CAPPS (9TH) AND RAUL CHAVEZ

    HOME RUNS: HOU - NONE
    PIT - JASON

    Jun 5 9:30 PM
  • 53
    roots
    RUWTbot Added 48 roots (Close Finish)

    Astros 3, Pirates 4  Top 9, 0 OutsJun 5 9:16 PM


  • NL
    AT PITTSBURGH - SCORING UPDATE
    TRIPLE BY JASON BAY SCORED NATE MCLOUTH.
    SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, J BAY ON THIRD, 2 OUT
    CURRENT SCORE: HOUSTON 3
    PITTSBURGH 4 BOTTOM, 5TH
    DUE UP FOR PITTSBURGH: J MICHAELS (.333, 1-FOR-2, HR, 3 RBI)

    Astros 3, Pirates 4  Bot 5, 0 OutsJun 5 8:33 PM


  • NL
    AT PITTSBURGH - SCORING UPDATE
    SACRIFICE FLY BY HUNTER PENCE SCORED BRAD AUSMUS.
    SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, B BACKE ON FIRST, 2 OUT
    CURRENT SCORE: HOUSTON 3
    PITTSBURGH 3 TOP, 2ND
    DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: K MATSUI (.275, 0-FOR-1)

    Astros 3, Pirates 3  Top 2, 0 OutsJun 5 7:40 PM


  • NL
    AT PITTSBURGH - SCORING UPDATE
    SINGLE BY BRANDON BACKE SCORED TY WIGGINTON.
    SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, B BACKE ON FIRST, B AUSMUS ON THIRD, 1 OUT
    CURRENT SCORE: HOUSTON 2
    PITTSBURGH 3 TOP, 2ND
    DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: H PENCE (.298, 1-FOR-1)

    Astros 2, Pirates 3  Top 2, 0 OutsJun 5 7:38 PM


  • NL
    AT PITTSBURGH - SCORING UPDATE
    THREE-RUN HOME RUN BY JASON MICHAELS (2) TO RIGHT CENTER
    WITH 2 OUT IN THE 1ST OFF BRANDON BACKE SCORED JACK WILSON AND JASON
    BAY.
    CURRENT SCORE: HOUSTON 1, PITTSBURGH 3
    DUE UP FOR PITTSBURGH: A LAROCHE (.213, 6 HR, 25 RBI)

    Astros 1, Pirates 3  Bot 1, 0 OutsJun 5 7:28 PM


  • NL
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
    - - - - - - - - - - - -
    HOUSTON 1 1 2 0
    PITTSBURGH 0 0 1 (BOT 1)

    CURRENT PITCHERS: HOU - BRANDON BACKE
    PIT - PAUL MAHOLM

    DUE UP FOR PITTSBURGH: J WILSON (.300, 0 HR, 2 RBI)
    F SANCHEZ (.243, 2 HR, 25 RBI)
    N MCLOUTH (.310, 13 HR, 43 RBI)

    Astros 1, Pirates 0  Bot 1, 0 OutsJun 5 7:14 PM
  • 5
    roots
    aqualung1 Added 5 roots

    Astros vs. PiratesApr 2 4:27 AM

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