GAME THREAD: NL: PITTSBURGH (66-81) at HOUSTON (63-84)

NL: PITTSBURGH (66-81) at HOUSTON (63-84)

<h3>Pirates look to continue dominance of Astros</h3>

<div class="pre">Pittsburgh (66-81) at Houston (63-84) 7:05 pm EDT</div>

HOUSTON (Ticker) - The Pittsburgh Pirates are all but assured oftheir 15th straight losing season. It is not because of theirplay against the Houston Astros though.


Matt Morris takes the mound on Saturday as the Pirates look tocontinue their success against the Astros in the middle game ofa three-game series.


Pittsburgh, which has won four of its last five games, hascaptured 10 of the 13 meetings between the clubs, including apair of sweeps.


Morris (9-9, 4.59 ERA) has not been great this season, but hehas done well against the National League's worst team. Therighthander is 1-0 with a 3.00 ERA in two starts against theAstros this season.


The Astros will counter with Wandy Rodriguez (8-13, 4.65), whohas lost four of his last five decisions. Rodriguez has had afrustrating season on the road, going 2-10 with a 7.31 ERA, butis 6-3 with a 2.54 ERA here.


Jose Bautista hit a two-run homer in a three-run eighth inningas Pittsburgh posted a 4-3 win in Friday's opener, sendingHouston to its eighth loss in the last nine games.

 

NL: PITTSBURGH at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">PITTSBURGH AT HOUSTON -- LINEUPS

PITTSBURGH HOUSTON
AVG HR RBI AVG HR RBI
Nyjer Morgan CF .224 0 3 Josh Anderson CF .250 0 1
Jose Bautista 3B .265 15 61 Craig Biggio 2B .251 10 47
Freddy Sanchez 2B .313 11 78 Lance Berkman 1B .277 30 91
Jason Bay LF .253 20 82 Carlos Lee LF .296 28 106
Xavier Nady RF .288 17 65 Hunter Pence RF .327 14 58
Steven Pearce 1B .302 0 5 Mark Loretta SS .281 4 37
Ronny Paulino C .261 10 50 Ty Wigginton 3B .293 3 12
Jack Wilson SS .290 9 52 J.R. Towles C .000 0 0
Matt Morris RHP .212 1 3 Wandy Rodriguez LHP .116 0 1
(9-9, 4.59) (8-13, 4.65)</div>

 

NL: PITTSBURGH at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NL AT HOUSTON
WARMUPS: PIT - MATT MORRIS (9-9, 4.59)
HOU - WANDY RODRIGUEZ (8-13, 4.65)

UMPIRES: HP - GARY DARLING
1B - BRIAN KNIGHT
2B - LARRY PONCINO
3B - JERRY MEALS

WEATHER: INDOORS</div>

 

NL: PITTSBURGH at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NL AT HOUSTON
STARTING BATS: PIT - MATT MORRIS AND RONNY PAULINO
HOU - WANDY RODRIGUEZ AND J.R. TOWLES

DUE UP FOR PITTSBURGH: N MORGAN (.224, 0 HR, 3 RBI)
J BAUTISTA (.265, 15 HR, 61 RBI)
F SANCHEZ (.313, 11 HR, 78 RBI)</div>

 

NL: PITTSBURGH at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
PITTSBURGH 0 0 0 0
HOUSTON 0 0 0 (BOT 1)

CURRENT PITCHERS: PIT - MATT MORRIS
HOU - WANDY RODRIGUEZ

DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: J ANDERSON (.250, 0 HR, 1 RBI)
C BIGGIO (.251, 10 HR, 47 RBI)
L BERKMAN (.277, 30 HR, 91 RBI)</div>

 

NL: PITTSBURGH at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">PITTSBURGH (0) VS HOUSTON (0) - MID 1ST - IN PROGRESS

PITTSBURGH ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
N Morgan cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .220
J Bautista 3b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .265
F Sanchez 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .313
J Bay lf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .253
X Nady rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .287
S Pearce 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .302
R Paulino c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .261
J Wilson ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .290
M Morris p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .212

Totals 3 0 0 0 2 2 3

BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - X Nady 1. Team LOB - 2.


HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Anderson cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .250
C Biggio 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .251
L Berkman 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .277
C Lee lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .296
H Pence rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .327
M Loretta ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .281
T Wigginton 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .293
J Towles c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
W Rodriguez p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .116

Totals 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.

FIELDING: PB - J Towles.


----------------------------------------------------
PITTSBURGH - 0 -- 0
HOUSTON - -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

PITTSBURGH ip h r er bb so hr era
M Morris 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4.59

HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
W Rodriguez 1 0 0 0 2 2 0 4.62

Pitches-strikes: W Rodriguez 23-12. Ground balls-fly balls: W Rodriguez 1-0.
Batters faced: W Rodriguez 5.

UMPIRES: HP--Gary Darling. 1B--Brian Knight. 2B--Larry Poncino. 3B--Jerry
Meals.

Weather: INDOORS.</div>

 

NL: PITTSBURGH at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NL AT HOUSTON
CONFIRMED STARTERS: PIT - MATT MORRIS
HOU - WANDY RODRIGUEZ</div>

 

NL: PITTSBURGH at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
PITTSBURGH 0 0 0 0
HOUSTON 0 0 2 0 (TOP 2)

CURRENT PITCHERS: PIT - MATT MORRIS
HOU - WANDY RODRIGUEZ

DUE UP FOR PITTSBURGH: S PEARCE (.302, 0 HR, 5 RBI)
R PAULINO (.261, 10 HR, 50 RBI)
J WILSON (.290, 9 HR, 52 RBI)</div>

 

NL: PITTSBURGH at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">PITTSBURGH (0) VS HOUSTON (0) - END 1ST - IN PROGRESS

PITTSBURGH ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
N Morgan cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .220
J Bautista 3b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .265
F Sanchez 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .313
J Bay lf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .253
X Nady rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .287
S Pearce 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .302
R Paulino c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .261
J Wilson ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .290
M Morris p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .212

Totals 3 0 0 0 2 2 3

BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - X Nady 1. Team LOB - 2.


HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Anderson cf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .333
C Biggio 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .251
L Berkman 1b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .278
C Lee lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .295
H Pence rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .326
M Loretta ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .281
T Wigginton 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .293
J Towles c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
W Rodriguez p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .116

Totals 4 0 2 0 0 0 4

BATTING: 2B - J Anderson (1, M Morris). S - C Biggio. Runners left in scoring
position, 2 out - H Pence 1. Team LOB - 2.

FIELDING: PB - J Towles.


----------------------------------------------------
PITTSBURGH - 0 -- 0
HOUSTON - 0 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

PITTSBURGH ip h r er bb so hr era
M Morris 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 4.56

HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
W Rodriguez 1 0 0 0 2 2 0 4.62

Pitches-strikes: M Morris 9-7; W Rodriguez 23-12. Ground balls-fly balls: M
Morris 2-1; W Rodriguez 1-0. Batters faced: M Morris 5; W Rodriguez 5.

UMPIRES: HP--Gary Darling. 1B--Brian Knight. 2B--Larry Poncino. 3B--Jerry
Meals.

Weather: INDOORS.</div>

 

NL: PITTSBURGH at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NL AT HOUSTON - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY RONNY PAULINO SCORED STEVEN PEARCE.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, R PAULINO ON FIRST, 0 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: PITTSBURGH 1
HOUSTON 0 TOP, 2ND

DUE UP FOR PITTSBURGH: J WILSON (.290, 9 HR, 52 RBI)</div>

 

NL: PITTSBURGH at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
PITTSBURGH 0 1 1 2 0
HOUSTON 0 0 2 0 (BOT 2)

CURRENT PITCHERS: PIT - MATT MORRIS
HOU - WANDY RODRIGUEZ

DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: M LORETTA (.281, 4 HR, 37 RBI)
T WIGGINTON (.293, 3 HR, 12 RBI)
J TOWLES (.000, 0 HR, 0 RBI)</div>

 

NL: PITTSBURGH at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">PITTSBURGH (1) VS HOUSTON (0) - MID 2ND - IN PROGRESS

PITTSBURGH ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
N Morgan cf 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 .220
J Bautista 3b 1 0 0 0 1 1 2 .264
F Sanchez 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .313
J Bay lf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .253
X Nady rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .287
S Pearce 1b 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .318
R Paulino c 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .263
J Wilson ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .289
M Morris p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .212

Totals 7 1 2 1 3 3 6

BATTING: 2B - S Pearce (4, W Rodriguez). S - M Morris. RBI - R Paulino (51).
Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - X Nady 1, J Bautista 1. Team LOB - 4.



HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Anderson cf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .333
C Biggio 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .251
L Berkman 1b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .278
C Lee lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .295
H Pence rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .326
M Loretta ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .281
T Wigginton 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .293
J Towles c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
W Rodriguez p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .116

Totals 4 0 2 0 0 0 4

BATTING: 2B - J Anderson (1, M Morris). S - C Biggio. Runners left in scoring
position, 2 out - H Pence 1. Team LOB - 2.

FIELDING: PB - J Towles.


----------------------------------------------------
PITTSBURGH - 01 -- 1
HOUSTON - 0 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

PITTSBURGH ip h r er bb so hr era
M Morris 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 4.56

HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
W Rodriguez 2 2 1 1 3 3 0 4.64

Pitches-strikes: M Morris 9-7; W Rodriguez 37-20. Ground balls-fly balls: M
Morris 2-1; W Rodriguez 3-0. Batters faced: M Morris 5; W Rodriguez 11.

UMPIRES: HP--Gary Darling. 1B--Brian Knight. 2B--Larry Poncino. 3B--Jerry
Meals.

Weather: INDOORS.</div>

 

NL: PITTSBURGH at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
PITTSBURGH 0 1 1 2 0
HOUSTON 0 0 0 3 0 (TOP 3)

CURRENT PITCHERS: PIT - MATT MORRIS
HOU - WANDY RODRIGUEZ

DUE UP FOR PITTSBURGH: F SANCHEZ (.313, 0-FOR-1)
J BAY (.253, 0-FOR-0, BB)
X NADY (.287, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

NL: PITTSBURGH at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">PITTSBURGH (1) VS HOUSTON (0) - END 2ND - IN PROGRESS

PITTSBURGH ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
N Morgan cf 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 .220
J Bautista 3b 1 0 0 0 1 1 2 .264
F Sanchez 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .313
J Bay lf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .253
X Nady rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .287
S Pearce 1b 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .318
R Paulino c 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .263
J Wilson ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .289
M Morris p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .212

Totals 7 1 2 1 3 3 6

BATTING: 2B - S Pearce (4, W Rodriguez). S - M Morris. RBI - R Paulino (51).
Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - X Nady 1, J Bautista 1. Team LOB - 4.


FIELDING: DP: 1 (J Wilson-F Sanchez-S Pearce).


HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Anderson cf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .333
C Biggio 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .251
L Berkman 1b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .278
C Lee lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .295
H Pence rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .326
M Loretta ss 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .282
T Wigginton 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .291
J Towles c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
W Rodriguez p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .116

Totals 7 0 3 0 0 0 5

BATTING: 2B - J Anderson (1, M Morris). S - C Biggio. Runners left in scoring
position, 2 out - H Pence 1. GIDP - T Wigginton. Team LOB - 2.

FIELDING: PB - J Towles.


----------------------------------------------------
PITTSBURGH - 01 -- 1
HOUSTON - 00 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

PITTSBURGH ip h r er bb so hr era
M Morris 2 3 0 0 0 0 0 4.54

HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
W Rodriguez 2 2 1 1 3 3 0 4.64

Pitches-strikes: M Morris 18-14; W Rodriguez 37-20. Ground balls-fly balls: M
Morris 5-1; W Rodriguez 3-0. Batters faced: M Morris 8; W Rodriguez 11.

UMPIRES: HP--Gary Darling. 1B--Brian Knight. 2B--Larry Poncino. 3B--Jerry
Meals.

Weather: INDOORS.</div>

 

NL: PITTSBURGH at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NL AT HOUSTON - SCORING UPDATE
THREE-RUN HOME RUN BY RONNY PAULINO (11) TO LEFT WITH 2 OUT
IN THE 3RD OFF WANDY RODRIGUEZ SCORED FREDDY SANCHEZ AND JASON BAY.
CURRENT SCORE: PITTSBURGH 4, HOUSTON 0

DUE UP FOR PITTSBURGH: J WILSON (.289, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

NL: PITTSBURGH at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NL AT HOUSTON - SCORING UPDATE
SOLO HOME RUN BY JACK WILSON (10) TO LEFT WITH 2 OUT IN THE
3RD OFF WANDY RODRIGUEZ.
CURRENT SCORE: PITTSBURGH 5, HOUSTON 0

DUE UP FOR PITTSBURGH: M MORRIS (.212, 0-FOR-0, SAC)</div>

 

NL: PITTSBURGH at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
PITTSBURGH 0 1 4 5 5 0
HOUSTON 0 0 0 3 0 (BOT 3)

CURRENT PITCHERS: PIT - MATT MORRIS
HOU - WANDY RODRIGUEZ

DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: W RODRIGUEZ (.116, 0 HR, 1 RBI)
J ANDERSON (.333, 1-FOR-1)
C BIGGIO (.251, 0-FOR-0, SAC)</div>

 

NL: PITTSBURGH at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">PITTSBURGH (5) VS HOUSTON (0) - MID 3RD - IN PROGRESS

PITTSBURGH ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
N Morgan cf 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 .220
J Bautista 3b 1 0 0 0 1 1 2 .264
F Sanchez 2b 2 1 1 0 0 0 1 .314
J Bay lf 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 .253
X Nady rf 2 0 0 0 0 2 4 .286
S Pearce 1b 2 1 1 0 0 0 0 .311
R Paulino c 2 1 2 4 0 0 0 .264
J Wilson ss 2 1 1 1 0 0 1 .291
M Morris p 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .208

Totals 13 5 5 5 3 5 8

BATTING: 2B - S Pearce (4, W Rodriguez). HR - R Paulino (11, 3rd inning off W
Rodriguez 2 on, 2 Out), J Wilson (10, 3rd inning off W Rodriguez 0 on, 2 Out).
S - M Morris. RBI - R Paulino 4 (54), J Wilson (53). 2-out RBI - R Paulino 3, J
Wilson. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - X Nady 1, J Bautista 1. Team
LOB - 4.

FIELDING: DP: 1 (J Wilson-F Sanchez-S Pearce).


HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Anderson cf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .333
C Biggio 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .251
L Berkman 1b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .278
C Lee lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .295
H Pence rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .326
M Loretta ss 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .282
T Wigginton 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .291
J Towles c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
W Rodriguez p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .116

Totals 7 0 3 0 0 0 5

BATTING: 2B - J Anderson (1, M Morris). S - C Biggio. Runners left in scoring
position, 2 out - H Pence 1. GIDP - T Wigginton. Team LOB - 2.

FIELDING: PB - J Towles.


----------------------------------------------------
PITTSBURGH - 014 -- 5
HOUSTON - 00 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

PITTSBURGH ip h r er bb so hr era
M Morris 2 3 0 0 0 0 0 4.54

HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
W Rodriguez 3 5 5 5 3 5 2 4.83

HBP - J Bay (by W Rodriguez). Pitches-strikes: M Morris 18-14; W Rodriguez
58-37. Ground balls-fly balls: M Morris 5-1; W Rodriguez 4-0. Batters faced: M
Morris 8; W Rodriguez 18.

UMPIRES: HP--Gary Darling. 1B--Brian Knight. 2B--Larry Poncino. 3B--Jerry
Meals.

Weather: INDOORS.</div>

 

NL: PITTSBURGH at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NL AT HOUSTON - MID INNING UPDATE
PLAY: C Ransom hit for W Rodriguez.
SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, NONE ON, 0 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: PITTSBURGH 5
HOUSTON 0 BOTTOM, 3RD

DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: C Ransom (.091, 0 HR, 0 RBI)</div>

 

NL: PITTSBURGH at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NL PITTSBURGH AT HOUSTON
NOTE: THE HOME RUNS BY PITTSBURGH'S RONNY PAULINO AND JACK
WILSON IN THE THIRD INNING WERE HIT BACK-TO-BACK.</div>