Pirates fall to Astros

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Doug Fister pitched seven scoreless innings, Teoscar Hernandez hit a two-run homer and the Houston Astros beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 3-1 on Monday night.

Hernandez connected off fellow rookie Jameson Taillon (3-3) in the fifth inning after A.J. Reed’s leadoff walk. It was the third home run for Hernandez, who was called up from Triple-A Fresno on Aug. 12 to make his major league debut.

Alex Bregman, another Astros rookie, hit his fourth homer in the ninth inning off Neftali Feliz.

Houston won its fourth straight game and Pittsburgh lost its fourth in a row. Both teams are competing for wild-card spots.

Fister struck out six, walked one and retired 11 of the first 12 batters. He had allowed nine runs and 11 hits over nine innings in his previous two starts.

Ken Giles got his fourth save despite allowing David Freese’s RBI single in the ninth.