Rookie left-hander Dallas Keuchel allowed five runs over the first two innings and the Astros couldn't climb out of the hole, falling 5-3 to the Pirates on Thursday night.
Keuchel lasted six innings, giving up five hits and two walks. The trouble started right away, as Starling Marte hit a home run for Pittsburgh on the first pitch of the game. Garrett Jones hit a two-run homer three batters later to extend the lead to 3-0. Clint Barmes hit a two-run homer in the second inning to build the lead to 5-0.
Houston's first runs came in the eighth inning on solo homers from Chris Johnson and Carlos Corporan. Johnson singled home another run in the ninth.
Corporan and Johnson each went 2-for-3 as the only Astros players with multiple hits.
Read more about the Astros at The Crawfish Boxes and SB Nation Houston. Head over toBucs Dugout and SB Nation Pittsburgh for the Pirates fans' perspective. Baseball Nationis your source for news and analysis around Major League Baseball.