Astros’ seven-run fourth sends Pirates to 9-7 loss

HOUSTON (AP) — Ty Wigginton homered twice and Carlos Lee drove in three runs during a seven-run fourth inning, as the Houston Astros rallied from five down to beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 9-7 on Saturday night.

Juan Gutierrez (1-1) relieved in the fourth inning and went two innings without allowing a hit to earn the win. Brad Lidge pitched the ninth for his 15th save in 21 tries.

Wandy Rodriguez lasted only three innings and allowed five runs on five hits and three walks, striking out five.

Matt Morris fell to 2-3 in nine starts with the Pirates, who acquired him for Rajai Davis and a player to be named from San Francisco on July 31. Morris is 9-10 overall this season.

Jack Wilson hit two home runs and Ronny Paulino had two hits and four RBIs for the Pirates.

Steve Pearce led off the second inning with a double and scored on Paulino’s single to give Pittsburgh a 1-0 lead.

After Freddy Sanchez singled and Jason Bay was hit by a pitch to start the third inning, Paulino hit a three-run homer, his 11th of the season. Wilson followed with his 10th home run to make it 5-0.

But Morris ran into trouble in the fourth when Lee led off with his 29th homer. Hunter Pence then singled and one out later, Wigginton hit a two-run shot to make it 5-3.

Josh Anderson’s RBI single closed it to 5-4 and Craig Biggio singled to load the bases. Lance Berkman was then hit by a pitch to send home the tying run.

Reliever Solomon Torres came on in relief and Lee, batting for the second time in the inning, hit a two-run single to give Houston a 7-5 lead.

In the fifth inning, pinch-hitter Jason Lane hit a bases-loaded grounder to first and was called out when he collided with first baseman Pearce at the bag.

A run scored to make it 8-5, and Wigginton’s solo homer in the seventh inning pushed the score to 9-5.

Wilson two-run homer in the eighth got Pittsburgh within two.