Astros continue dominance of Pirates

Associated Press

PITTSBURGH

Jeff Keppinger homered and had three RBIs, Brett Myers allowed two runs while working into the eighth inning and the Houston Astros remained unbeaten in seven games against the Pittsburgh Pirates this season with a 5-2 win Friday night.

Myers (7-6) extended his club record for consecutive starts of at least six innings to begin a season to 19 by allowing two runs on five hits in 72/3 innings, striking out four and walking one.

Matt Lindstrom worked a perfect ninth for his 22nd save in 26 opportunities.

Andrew McCutchen went 2 for 4 with an RBI and a run for Pittsburgh, which has lost seven straight.

Making his first start in exactly one month, the Pirates’ Zach Duke (3-9) pitched five effective innings, allowing two runs on five hits with no walks and five strikeouts. But he lost for the ninth time in his last 10 decisions.

In the Astros’ first game with former star Jeff Bagwell as their hitting coach, the team scored at least five runs for only the third time in its past 10 contests.