McCutchen homers twice in Pirates’ win

Associated Press

PITTSBURGH

Andrew McCutchen homered twice and pinch-hitter Jason Jaramillo singled home the go-ahead run in the eighth inning as the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the Houston Astros 5-4 on Wednesday night.

McCutchen hit a solo homer in the first after Houston had taken a 3-0 lead and a three-run shot in the fifth to tie the game at 4.

Jaramillo’s single off Sergio Escalona scored pinch-runner Chase d’Arnaud, giving Clint Hurdle his 600th career managerial victory.

Carlos Lee, Matt Downs and Clint Barmes homered for the Astros, who have lost five of six.

The Pirates’ bullpen combined for 52/3 innings of scoreless relief, with Tony Watson (2-2) getting the final out in the eighth and Joel Hanrahan working a perfect ninth for his 36th save in 39 opportunities.

Garrett Jones and Ryan Doumit hit consecutive pinch-hit singles with one out in the bottom of the eighth off Wilton Lopez (2-6). Jaramillo then produced the only run of the game that did not come on a home run.

Lee and Downs hit consecutive homers off Brian Burres in the first, the second time this season the Astros hit back-to-back shots.

Lee has 15 homers, but four have come in his past 14 games. Downs’ homer, a line drive, struck the foul pole.

Barmes hit a solo shot in the fourth, his 10th.

McCutchen tied it in the fifth when he connected against J.A. Happ. It was his fourth career multihomer game and second this season. McCutchen has a career-high 22 home runs.

Making his third start since a three-week stint in the minors during August, Happ gave up four runs on five hits and four walks in five innings. He tied a season high with eight strikeouts.

Happ had allowed one earned run in his two previous starts since bring promoted back to the majors. He also hadn’t allowed more than three runs in any of his previous seven career starts against Pittsburgh.

Making his second start since being promoted from Triple-A, Burres allowed four runs on seven hits in 32/3 innings.