Pirates Blow Lead, Fall To Astros, 7-4
HOUSTON (KDKA/AP) -- Despite holding the lead through most of the game, the Pirates lost to the last-place Houston Astros, 7-4 on Monday night.
Wandy Rodriguez and company held the Pirates to just five hits.
Rodriguez (10-9, 3.43 ERA) struck out 13, pitched seven innings and allowed just four hits and three runs.
Both teams were shutout over the first three innings. The Bucs scored three runs in the fourth when Andrew McCutchen hit a two-run homer - his 19th - followed by Ryan Doumit's RBI double.
At the bottom of the inning, Houston's Brian Bogusevic doubled, batting in J.D. Martinez to make it 3-1.
The Astros cut it to 3-2 after Jordan Schafer had an RBI single in the fifth.
The win slipped away for the Pirates in the seventh after a three-run homer by Carlos Lee. Jordan Scafer also scored after Martinez reached on a fielder's choice.
Houston added an insurance run in the eighth when Jose Altuve bunted, allowing Jason Bourgeois to score.
The Pirates got one more run for the night when Ronny Cedeno tripled and drove in Garrett Jones.
Ross Ohlendorf (6.27 ERA) gave up two runs and five hits over five innings. He struck out six.
Jason Grilli (1-1) takes the loss. He pitched 1 1-3 innings and allowed two earned runs and walked one.
Houston's Mark Melancon got the final out for his 15th save in 20 chances.
