Pirates Beat Astros, 3-1
PITTSBURGH (KDKA/AP) -- James McDonald pitched into the eighth inning in the Pirates' 3-1 win over the Houston.
The Pirates had seven hits – three from Ryan Doumit – as they improved their record to 65-76 on a rainy Monday afternoon at PNC Park.
McDonald (9-7, 3.98) struck out six and allowed just one run over 7 and 1-3 innings. He threw 91 pitches.
Houston scored first when Jose Altuve tripled on a fly ball, batting in Henry Sosa in the third.
The Pirates took the lead after Doumit got an RBI double and Josh Harrison drove in another run on a line drive single in the fourth.
Derrek Lee's home run gave the Pirates an insurance run in the eighth to take the win.
Joel Hanrahan picked up this 35th save after allowing two hits in the ninth. He walked one batter and struck out one.
Houston starter Henry Sosa (2-3) allowed two runs and six hits in six innings. The Astros have lost four straight.
Carlos Lee had his 14-game hitting streak snapped when he went hitless in three at-bats.
The start of the game was delayed 56 minutes by rain and, with more storms on the way, two teams playing out the string hustled through a steady drizzle.
