GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: NL: PITTSBURGH (66-82) at HOUSTON (64-84)

NL: PITTSBURGH (66-82) at HOUSTON (64-84)

<h3>Backe, Astros look to take series from Pirates</h3>

<div class="pre">Pittsburgh (66-82) at Houston (64-82) 2:05 pm EDT</div>

HOUSTON (Ticker) - The Houston Astros host the PittsburghPirates on Sunday in the rubber game of a three-game series.

The Astros got to Matt Morris for seven runs in the fourthinning on Saturday and held on for a 9-7 victory. That movedHouston within two games of Pittsburgh in the battle to stay outof last place in the National League Central.


Just 3-10 over their last 13 games, the Astros are averagingunder 3.7 runs per contest over that span.


Brandon Backe (0-1, 5.91 ERA) will make his third start forHouston since returning from "Tommy John" surgery. The29-year-old righthander allowed four runs and six hits in fiveframes but did not factor in the decision of Tuesday's 5-4 winover the Chicago Cubs.


The Pirates will counter with Paul Maholm (10-14, 4.32). Theyoung lefthander has picked up wins in three of his last fourstarts, and has yielded three runs or less in seven of his lastnine outings.


Maholm owns a 3-2 career mark against the Astros with a 4.21 ERAin six starts.

 

NL: PITTSBURGH at HOUSTON

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

PITTSBURGH HOUSTON
AVG HR RBI AVG HR RBI
Nyjer Morgan CF .226 0 3 Chris Burke SS .224 5 22
Jose Bautista 3B .262 15 61 Josh Anderson CF .308 0 2
Freddy Sanchez 2B .312 11 78 Hunter Pence RF .326 14 58
Adam Laroche 1B .274 21 84 Carlos Lee LF .297 29 109
Xavier Nady RF .284 17 65 Mark Loretta 1B .283 4 37
Jason Bay LF .252 20 82 Ty Wigginton 3B .300 5 15
Jack Wilson SS .294 11 55 Cody Ransom 2B .091 0 0
Carlos Maldonado C .083 0 2 J.R. Towles C .400 0 0
Paul Maholm LHP .179 0 4 Brandon Backe RHP .000 0 0
(10-14, 4.32) (0-1, 5.91)</div>

 

NL: PITTSBURGH at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NL AT HOUSTON
WARMUPS: PIT - PAUL MAHOLM (10-14, 4.32)
HOU - BRANDON BACKE (0-1, 5.91)

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

WEATHER: INDOORS</div>

 

NL: PITTSBURGH at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NL AT HOUSTON
STARTING BATS: PIT - PAUL MAHOLM AND CARLOS MALDONADO
HOU - BRANDON BACKE AND J.R. TOWLES

DUE UP FOR PITTSBURGH: N MORGAN (.226, 0 HR, 3 RBI)
J BAUTISTA (.262, 15 HR, 61 RBI)
F SANCHEZ (.312, 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 - PAUL MAHOLM
HOU - BRANDON BACKE

DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: C BURKE (.224, 5 HR, 22 RBI)
J ANDERSON (.308, 0 HR, 2 RBI)
H PENCE (.326, 14 HR, 58 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 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .226
J Bautista 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .262
F Sanchez 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .312
A LaRoche 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .274
X Nady rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .284
J Bay lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .252
J Wilson ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .294
C Maldonado c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .083
P Maholm p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .179

Totals 3 0 0 0 1 0 3

BATTING: Team LOB - 1.


HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Burke ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .224
J Anderson cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .308
H Pence rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .326
C Lee lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .297
M Loretta 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .283
T Wigginton 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .300
C Ransom 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .091
J Towles c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .400
B Backe p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000

Totals 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


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

PITTSBURGH ip h r er bb so hr era
P Maholm 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4.32

HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
B Backe 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 5.40

Pitches-strikes: B Backe 19-14. Ground balls-fly balls: B Backe 1-2. Batters
faced: B Backe 4.

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

Weather: INDOORS.</div>

 

NL: PITTSBURGH at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NL AT HOUSTON
CONFIRMED STARTERS: PIT - PAUL MAHOLM
HOU - BRANDON BACKE</div>

 

NL: PITTSBURGH at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NL AT HOUSTON - SCORING UPDATE
GROUND RULE DOUBLE BY JOSH ANDERSON SCORED CHRIS BURKE.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, J ANDERSON ON SECOND, 0 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: PITTSBURGH 0
HOUSTON 1 BOTTOM, 1ST

DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: H PENCE (.326, 14 HR, 58 RBI)</div>

 

NL: PITTSBURGH at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NL AT HOUSTON - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY MARK LORETTA SCORED JOSH ANDERSON.
SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, M LORETTA ON FIRST, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: PITTSBURGH 0
HOUSTON 2 BOTTOM, 1ST

DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: T WIGGINTON (.300, 5 HR, 15 RBI)</div>

 

NL: PITTSBURGH at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NL AT HOUSTON - SCORING UPDATE
THREE-RUN HOME RUN BY CODY RANSOM (1) TO LEFT WITH 2 OUT IN
THE 1ST OFF PAUL MAHOLM SCORED MARK LORETTA AND TY WIGGINTON.
CURRENT SCORE: PITTSBURGH 0, HOUSTON 5

DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: J TOWLES (.400, 0 HR, 0 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 5 5 5 0 (TOP 2)

CURRENT PITCHERS: PIT - PAUL MAHOLM
HOU - BRANDON BACKE

DUE UP FOR PITTSBURGH: X NADY (.284, 17 HR, 65 RBI)
J BAY (.252, 20 HR, 82 RBI)
J WILSON (.294, 11 HR, 55 RBI)</div>

 

NL: PITTSBURGH at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">PITTSBURGH (0) VS HOUSTON (5) - END 1ST - IN PROGRESS

PITTSBURGH ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
N Morgan cf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .226
J Bautista 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .262
F Sanchez 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .312
A LaRoche 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .274
X Nady rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .284
J Bay lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .252
J Wilson ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .294
C Maldonado c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .083
P Maholm p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .179

Totals 3 0 0 0 1 0 3

BATTING: Team LOB - 1.


HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Burke ss 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .227
J Anderson cf 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .357
H Pence rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .325
C Lee lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .297
M Loretta 1b 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .284
T Wigginton 3b 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .306
C Ransom 2b 1 1 1 3 0 0 0 .167
J Towles c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .333
B Backe p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000

Totals 8 5 5 5 0 0 2

BATTING: 2B - J Anderson (2, P Maholm); T Wigginton (9, P Maholm). HR - C
Ransom (1, 1st inning off P Maholm 2 on, 2 Out). RBI - J Anderson (3), M
Loretta (38), C Ransom 3 (3). 2-out RBI - M Loretta, C Ransom 3. Team LOB - 0.


BASERUNNING: SB - C Burke (9, 2nd base off P Maholm/C Maldonado).


----------------------------------------------------
PITTSBURGH - 0 -- 0
HOUSTON - 5 -- 5
----------------------------------------------------

PITTSBURGH ip h r er bb so hr era
P Maholm 1 5 5 5 0 0 1 4.55

HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
B Backe 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 5.40

Pitches-strikes: P Maholm 31-19; B Backe 19-14. Ground balls-fly balls: P
Maholm 0-3; B Backe 1-2. Batters faced: P Maholm 8; B Backe 4.

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

Weather: INDOORS.</div>

 

NL: PITTSBURGH at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NL AT HOUSTON - SCORING UPDATE
SOLO HOME RUN BY JACK WILSON (12) TO LEFT WITH 2 OUT IN THE
2ND OFF BRANDON BACKE.
CURRENT SCORE: PITTSBURGH 1, HOUSTON 5

DUE UP FOR PITTSBURGH: C MALDONADO (.083, 0 HR, 2 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 1 0
HOUSTON 5 5 5 0 (BOT 2)

CURRENT PITCHERS: PIT - PAUL MAHOLM
HOU - BRANDON BACKE

DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: B BACKE (.000, 0 HR, 0 RBI)
C BURKE (.227, 1-FOR-1)
J ANDERSON (.357, 1-FOR-1, RBI)</div>

 

NL: PITTSBURGH at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">PITTSBURGH (1) VS HOUSTON (5) - MID 2ND - IN PROGRESS

PITTSBURGH ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
N Morgan cf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .226
J Bautista 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .262
F Sanchez 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .312
A LaRoche 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .274
X Nady rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .283
J Bay lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .251
J Wilson ss 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .296
C Maldonado c 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .083
P Maholm p 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .175

Totals 7 1 1 1 2 0 4

BATTING: HR - J Wilson (12, 2nd inning off B Backe 0 on, 2 Out). RBI - J Wilson
(56). 2-out RBI - J Wilson. Team LOB - 2.


HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Burke ss 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .227
J Anderson cf 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .357
H Pence rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .325
C Lee lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .297
M Loretta 1b 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .284
T Wigginton 3b 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .306
C Ransom 2b 1 1 1 3 0 0 0 .167
J Towles c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .333
B Backe p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000

Totals 8 5 5 5 0 0 2

BATTING: 2B - J Anderson (2, P Maholm); T Wigginton (9, P Maholm). HR - C
Ransom (1, 1st inning off P Maholm 2 on, 2 Out). RBI - J Anderson (3), M
Loretta (38), C Ransom 3 (3). 2-out RBI - M Loretta, C Ransom 3. Team LOB - 0.


BASERUNNING: SB - C Burke (9, 2nd base off P Maholm/C Maldonado).


----------------------------------------------------
PITTSBURGH - 01 -- 1
HOUSTON - 5 -- 5
----------------------------------------------------

PITTSBURGH ip h r er bb so hr era
P Maholm 1 5 5 5 0 0 1 4.55

HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
B Backe 2 1 1 1 2 0 1 5.68

Pitches-strikes: P Maholm 31-19; B Backe 41-26. Ground balls-fly balls: P
Maholm 0-3; B Backe 4-2. Batters faced: P Maholm 8; B Backe 9.

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

Weather: INDOORS.</div>

 

NL: PITTSBURGH at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NL AT HOUSTON - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY JOSH ANDERSON SCORED BRANDON BACKE.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, J ANDERSON ON FIRST, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: PITTSBURGH 1
HOUSTON 6 BOTTOM, 2ND

DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: H PENCE (.325, 0-FOR-1)</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 1 0
HOUSTON 5 1 6 7 0 (TOP 3)

CURRENT PITCHERS: PIT - PAUL MAHOLM
HOU - BRANDON BACKE

DUE UP FOR PITTSBURGH: N MORGAN (.226, 0-FOR-0, BB)
J BAUTISTA (.262, 0-FOR-1)
F SANCHEZ (.312, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

NL: PITTSBURGH at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">PITTSBURGH (1) VS HOUSTON (6) - END 2ND - IN PROGRESS

PITTSBURGH ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
N Morgan cf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .226
J Bautista 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .262
F Sanchez 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .312
A LaRoche 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .274
X Nady rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .283
J Bay lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .251
J Wilson ss 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .296
C Maldonado c 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .083
P Maholm p 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .175

Totals 7 1 1 1 2 0 4

BATTING: HR - J Wilson (12, 2nd inning off B Backe 0 on, 2 Out). RBI - J Wilson
(56). 2-out RBI - J Wilson. Team LOB - 2.


HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Burke ss 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .227
J Anderson cf 2 1 2 2 0 0 0 .400
H Pence rf 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 .324
C Lee lf 2 0 0 0 0 1 2 .296
M Loretta 1b 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .284
T Wigginton 3b 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .306
C Ransom 2b 1 1 1 3 0 0 0 .167
J Towles c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .333
B Backe p 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .333

Totals 12 6 7 6 0 1 4

BATTING: 2B - J Anderson (2, P Maholm); T Wigginton (9, P Maholm); B Backe (1,
P Maholm). HR - C Ransom (1, 1st inning off P Maholm 2 on, 2 Out). S - C Burke.
RBI - J Anderson 2 (4), M Loretta (38), C Ransom 3 (3). 2-out RBI - M Loretta,
C Ransom 3. Team LOB - 1.

BASERUNNING: SB - C Burke (9, 2nd base off P Maholm/C Maldonado).


----------------------------------------------------
PITTSBURGH - 01 -- 1
HOUSTON - 51 -- 6
----------------------------------------------------

PITTSBURGH ip h r er bb so hr era
P Maholm 2 7 6 6 0 1 1 4.58

HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
B Backe 2 1 1 1 2 0 1 5.68

Pitches-strikes: P Maholm 45-28; B Backe 41-26. Ground balls-fly balls: P
Maholm 1-4; B Backe 4-2. Batters faced: P Maholm 13; B Backe 9.

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

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 0 1 1 0
HOUSTON 5 1 6 7 0 (BOT 3)

CURRENT PITCHERS: PIT - PAUL MAHOLM
HOU - BRANDON BACKE

DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: M LORETTA (.284, 1-FOR-1, RBI)
T WIGGINTON (.306, 1-FOR-1)
C RANSOM (.167, 1-FOR-1, HR, 3 RBI)</div>

 

NL: PITTSBURGH at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">PITTSBURGH (1) VS HOUSTON (6) - MID 3RD - IN PROGRESS

PITTSBURGH ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
N Morgan cf 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 .222
J Bautista 3b 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 .261
F Sanchez 2b 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 .311
A LaRoche 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .274
X Nady rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .283
J Bay lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .251
J Wilson ss 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .296
C Maldonado c 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .083
P Maholm p 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .175

Totals 10 1 1 1 2 0 4

BATTING: HR - J Wilson (12, 2nd inning off B Backe 0 on, 2 Out). RBI - J Wilson
(56). 2-out RBI - J Wilson. Team LOB - 2.


HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Burke ss 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .227
J Anderson cf 2 1 2 2 0 0 0 .400
H Pence rf 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 .324
C Lee lf 2 0 0 0 0 1 2 .296
M Loretta 1b 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .284
T Wigginton 3b 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .306
C Ransom 2b 1 1 1 3 0 0 0 .167
J Towles c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .333
B Backe p 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .333

Totals 12 6 7 6 0 1 4

BATTING: 2B - J Anderson (2, P Maholm); T Wigginton (9, P Maholm); B Backe (1,
P Maholm). HR - C Ransom (1, 1st inning off P Maholm 2 on, 2 Out). S - C Burke.
RBI - J Anderson 2 (4), M Loretta (38), C Ransom 3 (3). 2-out RBI - M Loretta,
C Ransom 3. Team LOB - 1.

BASERUNNING: SB - C Burke (9, 2nd base off P Maholm/C Maldonado).


----------------------------------------------------
PITTSBURGH - 010 -- 1
HOUSTON - 51 -- 6
----------------------------------------------------

PITTSBURGH ip h r er bb so hr era
P Maholm 2 7 6 6 0 1 1 4.58

HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
B Backe 3 1 1 1 2 0 1 5.27

Pitches-strikes: P Maholm 45-28; B Backe 53-35. Ground balls-fly balls: P
Maholm 1-4; B Backe 5-4. Batters faced: P Maholm 13; B Backe 12.

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

Weather: INDOORS.</div>