NATIONAL LEAGUE Manager rips into Benson after Pirates lose to Astros

After a slow start, Houston is back in the NL Central race.
PITTSBURGH (AP) -- The Houston Astros are closing in on the NL Central lead despite only four wins in the first quarter of the season from top starters Roy Oswalt and Wade Miller.
If their 6-2 victory over Pittsburgh on Thursday is any indication, that's about to change.
The Pirates, on the other hand, are going nowhere, partly because the inconsistent Kris Benson has yet to establish himself as the staff ace. Manager Lloyd McClendon said that must change, too.
As the Astros returned home for the weekend and the Pirates went back on the road, they seemed to be headed in opposite directions. The Astros, after a slow start, are back in the division race after taking seven of eight from Pittsburgh in an 11-day stretch.
But the Pirates are nine games under .500 despite a fast start, a situation that seems to be causing more tension and pressure each day.
McClendon, for example, said Wednesday that he's unhappy with the constant criticism his club gets, then turned around and sharply rebuked Benson (4-5) on Thursday for his latest failed start.
Blown lead
Unhappy that Benson immediately gave back two runs after being given a 2-0 lead, McClendon was strongly critical of the right-hander. He has rarely been on any player in his three seasons on the job.
"This game isn't based on potential, it's based on results," the manager said. "There comes a time when you've got to go out and get it done."
McClendon all but said Benson's inability to hold the lead was the turning point. The Astros took a 3-2 lead on Richard Hidalgo's homer off Benson in the sixth, then added three runs against reliever Brian Meadows in the final three innings.
"When you get a couple of runs, you've got to go back out and go 1-2-3 in the next inning," McClendon said. "You've just gotten two runs off one of the best pitchers in the league [Oswalt]. You can't give those runs back.
"You've got your No. 1 starter against their No. 1 starter. Sometimes you've got to step up, execute, make your pitches. Sometimes you've got to win a game 2-0."
Oswalt shut down Pittsburgh after the two-run third, only to be lifted when he injured his right groin running the bases in the seventh. He won't know his status for his next start until Friday at the earliest.
Before leaving, Oswalt gave up two runs and seven hits in six innings for his first win in five starts since beating Milwaukee 11-5 on April 18.
"I was glad just to get a win," he said.