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After thrilling rally, Pirates try to continue hit parade

Jul 22, 2008 - 11:33 AM HOUSTON (Ticker) -- The Pittsburgh Pirates needed one inning to turn around their recent offensive struggles.

After snapping a five-game losing streak with a thrilling ninth-inning rally, the Pirates continue their series with the Houston Astros on Tuesday.

Pittsburgh scored just nine runs in its first four games after the All-Star break, but equaled that mark during the series opener.

Trailing by one run entering the ninth on Monday, Jason Bay and Adam LaRoche jumped on Astros' closer Jose Valverde for home runs before Freddy Sanchez added an inside-the-park homer to cap the seven-run frame as the Pirates ran away with a 9-3 win.

"It was looking like the same old story for the last four days," said Bay, who saw the Pirates leave 12 runners on base through eight innings. "Hopefully, we're over that and can get back on the right side of the ship."

The Pirates should have an excellent chance to continue the hit parade when they face Astros starter Jack Cassel (1-0, 6.28 ERA), who is taking the mound in place of injured ace Roy Oswalt. Cassel surrendered six runs - four earned - and six hits in just 2 1/3 innings of relief against the Milwaukee Brewers during his last outing on June 1.

Paul Maholm (6-6, 4.10) takes the mound for Pittsburgh on Tuesday looking to bounce back from a dismal outing. Maholm surrendered five runs and eight hits while striking out seven in six innings, snapping a personal four-game win streak during Thursday's 5-3 loss to the Colorado Rockies.