Saturday, July 16, 2011
Associated Press
HOUSTON
Jeff Karstens pitched a five-hitter and Andrew McCutchen tripled and drove in two runs as the surging Pittsburgh Pirates opened the second half of the season with a 4-0 victory over the Houston Astros on Friday night.
Karstens (8-4) needed just 83 pitches to become the first Pirate to win five straight decisions in a season since Matt Capps in 2006. He has an ERA of 2.34 this year, but has been particularly dominant in his three starts against Houston, going 3-0 with an 0.41 ERA.
It was the second career complete game and shutout for Karstens, who last did it in 2008, at Arizona.
With the Brewers’ loss to Colorado, the Pirates moved into a tie for first place in the National League Central.
Houston starter Brett Myers (3-10) allowed five hits and three runs while striking out a season-high 11 in six innings in his fourth consecutive loss.
Alex Presley opened the game with a single and stole second base. He scored on a single by Neil Walker to give Pittsburgh a 1-0 lead.
McCutchen’s two-run triple to center field came in the third inning and scored Presley and Chase d’Arnaud to make it 3-0. McCutchen picked up where he left off before the All-Star break and has 10 RBIs in his last five games.
Karstens sailed through the first five innings, facing the minimum thanks to a double play in the second inning after Hunter Pence led off with a single.
Pinch-hitter Chris Johnson singled with two outs in the sixth inning on a grounder to right. Michael Bourn followed with a single on an infield dribbler that Karstens couldn’t corral, but Matt Downs grounded into a forceout to allow Karstens to escape the jam.
Jeff Keppinger singled in the seventh inning, but was out at second when Pence grounded into a forceout. Pence stole second base and Carlos Lee singled. Karstens was able to get out of the inning when Brett Wallace grounded into a double play.
The Astros tried to spark their offense with a lineup shuffle. They moved Lee out of the cleanup spot and batted Pence fourth with Lee hitting behind him. It didn’t help as the Astros were shut out for the fifth time this season.
Garrett Jones walked in the eighth inning and was replaced by pinch-runner Xavier Paul, who advanced to second on a wild pitch before scoring when Lyle Overbay reached on an error by Keppinger to make it 4-0.