SB Nation Houston - Astros Fall Apart In Extras, Drop Series To Pirateshttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/46691/houston-fave.png2011-07-17T17:24:56-05:00http://houston.sbnation.com/rss/stream/20429562011-07-17T17:24:56-05:002011-07-17T17:24:56-05:00Astros Fall Apart In Extras, Lose 7-5 To Pirates
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<p>Houston, TX (Sports Network) – <span>Humberto Quintero</span>’s passed ball opened the door to three Pittsburgh runs in the 11th inning, as the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bucsdugout.com/">Pirates</a> topped Houston, 7- 5, in the finale of a three-game set from Minute Maid Park.</p>
<p>With runners on the corners and one out, Quintero let a <span>Mark Melancon</span> (5-3) offering slip to the backstop, allowing <span>Josh Harrison</span> to score the visitors’ lead run. <span>Alex Presley</span> followed with an <span class="caps">RBI</span> single and a throwing error on <span>Aneury Rodriguez</span> later in the frame brought in Presley with the Bucs’ final tally.</p>
<p>Quintero atoned for his gaffe with a two-out homer in the bottom half of the frame to cut Houston’s deficit to 7-5, but <span>Jason Michaels</span> flied out to end the contest, allowing <span>Chris Resop</span> to snag his first career save.</p>
<p><span>Chris Leroux</span> (1-0) tossed a scoreless 10th inning for his first career win.</p>
https://houston.sbnation.com/houston-astros/2011/7/17/2280317/astros-fall-apart-in-extras-lose-7-5playmaker1732011-07-17T10:07:32-05:002011-07-17T10:07:32-05:00Wandy, Astros Try To Win Rubber Game Against Pittsburgh This Afternoon
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<p>(Sports Network) – All-Star <span>Kevin Correia</span> has sparkled on the road and today the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bucsdugout.com/">Pirates</a> turn to the right-hander to hopefully take the finale of a three- game road series against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.crawfishboxes.com/">Houston Astros</a>.</p>
<p>Correia has gone 9-2 with a 2.71 <span class="caps">ERA</span> in his 11 road starts, leading the majors in road wins. He has won three of his last four starts and is one win shy of his career-high of 12 set in 2009. Additionally, he is looking to become the first Pirate to win 12 games in a season since <span>Tom Gorzelanny</span> in 2007 (14-10).</p>
<p>In his most recent start, July 9 against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/">Cubs</a>, Correia was pulled after allowing nine hits and five runs in 3 2/3 innings of a 6-3 loss. He’s 0-1 with a 3.64 <span class="caps">ERA</span> in eight games (4 starts) against the Astros.</p>
<p><span>Wandy Rodriguez</span> started Houston’s last game before the All-Star break and received the loss after allowing five runs on five hits in 5 1/3 innings in a road defeat to the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/mlb/teams/florida-marlins">Marlins</a>. He’s 7-5 with a 4.10 <span class="caps">ERA</span> in 15 games against the Pirates. That includes a 5-1 loss on July 5 at Pittsburgh when he gave up five runs in six innings.</p>
<p>Last night, <span>Humberto Quintero</span> singled in the go-ahead run in Houston’s three- run eighth inning, as the Astros came back to beat the Pirates, 6-4, to snap a five-game slide.</p>
<p>The Pirates, who started the day atop the NL Central, came back from a 3-0 deficit before blowing the lead in the eighth.</p>
<p><span>Jose Veras</span> (2-3) absorbed the loss after yielding three runs — two earned — while recording just one out.</p>
<p><span>Jeff Keppinger</span> belted a two-run homer, while <span>Michael Bourn</span> added three hits and drove in a run for the Astros.</p>
<p><span>Neil Walker</span> went 4-for-5 with a home run and two <span class="caps">RBI</span>, while <span>Lyle Overbay</span> and <span>Brandon Wood</span> also went deep for the Pirates, who had won three of four coming in.</p>
<p>Pittsburgh was in first place this late in the season for the first time since 1997, but fell a game behind the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.vivaelbirdos.com/">Cardinals</a> in the division as a result of St. Louis beating the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.redreporter.com/">Reds</a> on Saturday.</p>
<p>Pittsburgh is 8-3 this season against the Astros and swept a three-game set at Minute Maid Park in its last visit from June 14-16.</p>
https://houston.sbnation.com/houston-astros/2011/7/17/2279792/wandy-astros-try-to-win-rubber-game-against-pittsburghplaymaker1732011-07-16T22:08:23-05:002011-07-16T22:08:23-05:00Astros Rally In The Eighth, Win 6-4
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<p>Houston, TX (Sports Network) - <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../mlb/players/372/humberto-quintero">Humberto Quintero</a> singled in the go-ahead run in Houston's three-run eighth inning, as the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../mlb/teams/houston-astros">Astros</a> came back to beat the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../mlb/teams/pittsburgh-pirates">Pittsburgh Pirates</a>, 6-4, to snap a five-game slide.</p>
<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bucsdugout.com/">Pirates</a>, who started the day atop the NL Central, came back from a 3-0 deficit before blowing the lead in the eighth.</p>
<p><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../mlb/players/4298/jose-veras">Jose Veras</a> (2-3) absorbed the loss after yielding three runs -- two earned -- while recording just one out.</p>
<p><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../mlb/players/415/jeff-keppinger">Jeff Keppinger</a> belted a two-run homer, while <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../mlb/players/192/michael-bourn">Michael Bourn</a> added three hits and drove in a run for the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.crawfishboxes.com/">Astros</a>.</p>
<p><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../mlb/players/32580/neil-walker">Neil Walker</a> went 4-for-5 with a home run and two RBI, while <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../mlb/players/861/lyle-overbay">Lyle Overbay</a> and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../mlb/players/719/brandon-wood">Brandon Wood</a> also went deep for the Pirates, who had won three of four coming in.</p>
<p>Pittsburgh was in first place this late in the season for the first time since 1997, but fell a game behind the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../mlb/teams/st-louis-cardinals">Cardinals</a> in the division as a result of St. Louis beating the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../mlb/teams/cincinnati-reds">Reds</a> on Saturday.</p>
<p>The Pirates tied things on back-to-back home runs by Overbay and Wood in the sixth.</p>
<p><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../mlb/players/68912/bud-norris">Bud Norris</a>, who also surrender Walker's solo blast in the fifth, was pulled later in the inning with two on and two out, and Walker greeted <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../mlb/players/31301/wilton-lopez">Wilton Lopez</a> with an RBI single for a 4-3 lead.</p>
<p>The Astros rallied to re-rake the lead in the eighth.</p>
<p>With <span>Hunter Pence</span> on third and one out, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../mlb/players/69504/brett-wallace">Brett Wallace</a> hit a grounder to short. Chase d'Arnaud opted to go home with the ball, and Pence slid in safely on a close play at the plate.</p>
<p>Wood's error on <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../mlb/players/547/clint-barmes">Clint Barmes</a>' sharply hit ball to third put runners on the corners, and Quintero laced a single to left to plate the eventual game- winning run.</p>
<p>Bourn added an RBI single off <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../mlb/players/34226/chris-leroux">Chris Leroux</a>, and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../mlb/players/31796/mark-melancon">Mark Melancon</a> hurled a perfect ninth to lock down his seventh save of the season.</p>
<p>Carlos Lee scored on a passed ball in the second, and Keppinger took <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../../mlb/players/396/paul-maholm">Paul Maholm</a> over the left-field wall in the third for a 3-0 edge.</p>
<p>Maholm, who entered with a 1.04 ERA in six starts against division rivals this year, surrendered three runs on nine hits over five innings...Norris was touched for four runs on nine hits in his outing...Pittsburgh still leads the season series, 8-3...The Pirates stranded 10 runners.</p>
https://houston.sbnation.com/houston-astros/2011/7/16/2279461/astros-rally-in-the-eighth-win-6-4playmaker1732011-07-16T12:27:18-05:002011-07-16T12:27:18-05:00Division-Leading Pirates Look To Continue Their Special Season Against Astros, Bud Norris Tonight
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<p>(Sports Network) - After enduring 18 straight losing seasons and countless last place finishes in the NL Central, the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../mlb/teams/pittsburgh-pirates">Pittsburgh Pirates</a> are in an odd position on July 16 -- in first place.</p>
<p>Percentage points ahead of St. Louis in the NL Central, the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bucsdugout.com/">Pirates</a> are in first in the division this late in a season for the first time since 1997 when they were in first on July 17. That year's team finished 79-83, but this time around a young nucleus of talent has the Pirates on top and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../mlb/players/396/paul-maholm">Paul Maholm</a> could put the Bucs in first place alone tonight against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../mlb/teams/houston-astros">Houston Astros</a> in the second test of a three-game series from Minute Maid Park.</p>
<p>The 29-year-old Maholm, who has given up one earned run in each of his last two starts -- both wins --, will be on the mound this evening. The lefty held down the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.crawfishboxes.com/">Astros</a> over six innings on July 4, and then six days later shut down the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../mlb/teams/chicago-cubs">Cubs</a> in a 9-1 victory.</p>
<p>Maholm has gone 3-1 with a 1.04 ERA in six starts against National League Central teams this year. He has more career wins (11) against the Astros than any other opponent. His 11-6 mark in 19 games against Houston includes a 1-0 record with a 1.38 ERA this season.</p>
<p><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../mlb/players/68912/bud-norris">Bud Norris</a>, who is 3-4 with a 3.74 ERA in seven games against the Pirates, counters for Houston. The right-hander is coming off a victory in Pittsburgh on July 6 when he allowed seven hits and two runs in seven innings.</p>
<p>Last night, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../mlb/players/624/jeff-karstens">Jeff Karstens</a> tossed a five-hit shutout and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../mlb/players/32599/andrew-mccutchen">Andrew McCutchen</a> added a two-run triple in Pittsburgh's 4-0 win.</p>
<p>"'Cutch' is swinging the bat as well as anybody right now," said Pirates manager Clint Hurdle. "He's in such a good place he's seeing the ball, getting good looks and hitting it all over."</p>
<p>Karstens (8-4) turned in his fifth straight positive decision and recorded his first complete-game whitewash since 2008. He needed just 83 pitches (64 for strikes) to finish the outing.</p>
<p>The victory, combined with the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../mlb/teams/st-louis-cardinals">Cardinals</a>' loss in Cincinnati moved the teams into a virtual tie atop the NL Central. Milwaukee is a half-game back and Cincinnati is three games off the pace.</p>
<p><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../mlb/players/32580/neil-walker">Neil Walker</a> added an RBI single and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../mlb/players/34118/alex-presley">Alex Presley</a> scored twice for the Pirates, who have won six of their last eight.</p>
<p><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="../../mlb/players/220/brett-myers">Brett Myers</a> (3-10) worked six innings in the loss, allowing five hits and three runs despite striking out a season-high 11 batters for the Astros, who fell to 1-10 in July.</p>
<p>Pittsburgh is 8-2 this season against the Astros and swept a three-game set at Minute Maid Park in its last visit from June 14-16.</p>
https://houston.sbnation.com/2011/7/16/2337992/division-leading-pirates-look-to-continue-their-special-seasonplaymaker173