Pirates Rally Past Astros For 5-4 Win
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Jimmy Paredes dropped Russell Martin's bases-loaded fly ball when he collided with second baseman Jake Elmore with two outs in the ninth inning, the second missed catch by a Houston right fielder, and the Pittsburgh Pirates rallied past the Astros 5-4 Friday night.
Down 4-1, Pittsburgh started its comeback in the sixth when Chris Carter, usually a designated hitter, dropped Andrew McCutchen's fly ball for a three-base error and Garrett Jones followed with a double.
Pedro Alvarez hit a two-run homer in the eighth, a 462-foot drive that cleared the right-field stands and went into the Allegheny River on one hop.
Starling Marte singled off Edgar Gonzalez (0-1) leading off the ninth, and Travis Snider hit into a forceout, with the Astros failing to turn a double play with a late throw to first.
McCutchen's single put runners at the corners, and Gonzalez fielded Brandon Inge's comebacker and dropped it for an error as he turned to throw to second, missing his chance to start an inning-ending double play.
Neil Walker took a called third strike with a full count, and Martin lifted a full-count pitch to short right-center field, where Elmore settled under the ball and Paredes slammed into him as the ball hit his glove and fell to the field.
Justin Wilson (4-0) pitched a scoreless ninth as the Pirates (25-17) won for the seventh time in eight games to move a season-high eight games over .500.
Andrew McCutchen homered and had three hits for Pittsburgh.
Houston's 11-31 start is its worst and matched Miami for the worst record in the major leagues.
Astros starter Jordan Lyles allowed two runs — one earned — and four hits in five innings and is 0-4 with a 6.75 ERA in six career starts against Pittsburgh.
Pirates starter Jeanmar Gomez gave up four runs — three earned -- and five hits in 4 2-3 innings.
Houston built a 4-1 lead on Jason Castro's sacrifice fly in the first and a three-run third that included Matt Dominguez's solo homer, Elmore's run-scoring single and a throwing error by Walker at second.
McCutchen homered in the first.
RELATED LINKS:
Box Score
More Pirates News
More Sports News
(© Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
