Tejada’s infield hit lifts Astros past Bucs

HOUSTON (AP) — Russ Ortiz is unhappy with his role.

That’s just fine with the Astros, as long as he keeps pitching the way he did Sunday in Houston’s 6-4 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Felipe Paulino, who took Ortiz’s spot in the rotation earlier this season, strained his right groin in the second inning and left the game. Ortiz came on in relief and tossed 41‚Ñ3 scoreless innings. He gave up four hits and a walk, striking out three.

“Ortiz did a really good job,” Houston manager Cecil Cooper said. “Russ has pitched much better than he did as a starter. He’s more consistent in the strike zone.

“He wasn’t happy when we put him in the bullpen and he probably still isn’t happy. But we’ve talked with him several times and he knows what role we need him to play.”

Not that Ortiz is accepting that role. In nine relief appearances since the demotion, he has a 2.50 ERA. He ran his scoreless streak Sunday to 121‚Ñ3 innings, the longest by an Astros pitcher this season.

Does Ortiz think he has pitched well enough to start again?

“That’s a question for them,” he said. “Of course I want to start. That’s what I love to do.

“But I’ve been told my role is long relief. Those things are not up to me. All I can do is work hard and do my best,” he added. “It’s nice to have a good outing and make a case for myself. I hope I can just give Cooper more confidence in me every time I go out there.”

Matt Kata scored from second base on Miguel Tejada’s infield single, snapping a seventh-inning tie, and the Astros held on from there.

Pirates shortstop Ramon Vazquez went to the turf to field Tejada’s grounder, fumbled the ball and tried to get it to second baseman Freddy Sanchez for an inning-ending force. But they couldn’t connect and Kata never stopped running, putting Houston ahead 4-3.

“There were two outs, so why stop?” Tejada said. “Some guys might stop, but you have to try and make something happen in that situation.”

The Pirates thought it was a good play by Kata.

“It was close,” Vazquez said of the play at second. “I was falling down, but that was the best chance I thought we had of getting the out.”

Steven Jackson (1-1) took the loss, allowing three runs, three hits and two walks in 11‚Ñ3 innings.

“That was a really heads-up play by [Kata] and all you can really do is tip your cap to him,” Jackson said.