Pirates slip past Houston

Nyjer Morgan made a
spectacular, over-the-shoulder catch in the third inning.

HOUSTON (AP) — Jose Bautista hit a two-run homer and Ronny Paulino added a run-scoring single in the eighth inning as the Pittsburgh Pirates rallied to beat the Houston Astros 4-3 on Friday night.

The Pirates trailed 2-1 after Lance Berkman hit a solo homer off Damaso Marte in the seventh.

Chad Qualls (6-5) started the eighth in relief of Houston starter Roy Oswalt and gave up a single to Freddy Sanchez. Adam LaRoche grounded to Berkman, who threw to second for the force out, before Bautista drove a 3-1 pitch off the foul pole in left field, the first runs given up by Houston’s bullpen in 16 innings.

Steve Pearce singled to center and stole second before Paulino lined a single up the middle to put Pittsburgh up 4-2.

Houston rookie Josh Anderson, recalled on Sept. 1 and making his first major league start, had an RBI single in the eighth off Pirates reliever Shawn Chacon. But Matt Capps pitched a scoreless ninth to earn his 17th save.

Ty Wigginton doubled twice and scored a run for Houston, which lost to the Pirates for the 10th time in 13 meetings this season.

Pittsburgh reliever Romulo Sanchez (1-0) earned the win by striking out Wigginton, the only batter he faced, to end the seventh. It was the first major league win for Sanchez, who made his debut Aug. 26 at Houston.

The Astros have lost eight of their last nine games and 11 of 16 since Cecil Cooper replaced Phil Garner as manager on Aug. 27.

Oswalt struggles

The Pirates’ rally ruined another strong outing by Oswalt, who’d won six of his last nine starts. The Astros’ ace allowed six hits with six strikeouts and an unearned run in seven innings.

Pittsburgh starter Ian Snell was just as effective, giving up a run on five hits with eight strikeouts in six innings.

Franquelis Osoria relieved Snell to start the seventh and retired Hunter Pence on a ground out. Pittsburgh manager Jim Tracy then called in the left-throwing Marte, but Berkman drove a 1-2 pitch off the brick facade in left field.

Berkman’s 30th homer of the season was only his fifth batting right-handed.

Sanchez scored Pittsburgh’s first run in the third inning after doubling down the left-field line with two outs. LaRoche singled to right and Pence bobbled the ball, allowing Sanchez to sprint home. Pence, a rookie, was making his first start in right field after making 94 starts in center.

Snell escapes

Snell escaped a two-out, bases-loaded jam in the third when Nyjer Morgan made a spectacular, over-the-shoulder catch on Wigginton’s drive to deep center.

Wigginton doubled leading off the sixth inning and Ausmus singled, but Wigginton could only get to third.

Oswalt then grounded to shortstop Jack Wilson and his throw to Sanchez to try for a double play skipped into right field, allowing Wigginton to score and tie the game. It was Sanchez’s seventh error of the season, the lowest total in the majors among second basemen with at least 500 chances.