Pirates top Astros again for first road sweep, 8-7

Jason Bay hit a two-run homer, and Doug Mientkiewicz drove in two runs.

HOUSTON (AP) — Three days after they were swept by Colorado, the Pittsburgh Pirates feel much better after doing the same to Houston.

Jason Bay hit a two-run homer and Pittsburgh earned its first road sweep this season with an 8-7 win over the Astros on Wednesday.

Doug Mientkiewicz drove in two runs, starter Ian Snell had an RBI single and Franquelis Osoria (4-3) pitched two innings of scoreless relief as Pittsburgh finished off its first sweep since taking three from San Francisco at PNC Park from May 6-8.

“As bad as we played in Colorado, to turn around and do this three days in a row was important,” said Mientkiewicz, who had four hits. “We needed these three bad.”

Damaso Marte shut out the Astros in the ninth for his fifth save in seven chances.

The Pirates have won three straight road games for the first time this season and have their first three-game victory streak since taking six straight from May 6-12.

After getting outscored 28-9 over four games in Denver, the Pirates outscored the Astros 25-12 in three games at Minute Maid Park.

“To do that here, especially coming from Colorado, was a big boost for us,” said Pittsburgh manager John Russell.

Kaz Matsui hit a solo homer and Mark Loretta added a two-run single for the Astros, who’ve lost four in a row and dropped into last place in the NL Central.

On Tuesday, the Astros traded for left-hander Randy Wolf and general manager Ed Wade said the move was an indication that the team’s brass hasn’t given up on the season. After Wednesday’s loss, the players were conceding how much ground they have to make up.

“What can you say when you just got swept by the Pirates when you’re trying to get back to respectability?” said first baseman Lance Berkman. “Right now, we have all the earmarks of being a bad team. That’s not saying we can’t come out of it. All you can say now is we’re bad.”

The Astros came into this series after taking two of three from the first-place Cubs.

“I’m very disappointed,” said catcher Brad Ausmus. “We go against the Cubs and win two of three and then get swept by the Pirates. I feel like we made two steps forward and six steps back. No one in this locker room is happy with what we’re going right now.”