GAME THREAD: NL: HOUSTON (41-55) at PITTSBURGH (40-55)

NL: HOUSTON at PITTSBURGH

<div class="pre">HOUSTON (3) VS PITTSBURGH (7) - END 8TH - IN PROGRESS

HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Burke rf 4 0 0 0 0 1 4 .231
H Pence cf 4 0 2 1 0 0 2 .330
M Loretta 2b 4 0 1 0 0 0 2 .309
C Lee lf 4 0 1 0 0 1 2 .296
M Ensberg 3b 4 1 1 0 0 3 3 .232
M Lamb 1b 4 1 3 1 0 0 1 .305
E Bruntlett ss 4 1 3 1 0 0 1 .315
B Ausmus c 2 0 0 0 2 1 2 .244
W Rodriguez p 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .172
C Qualls p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
a-C Biggio ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .249
M Albers p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .222
b-L Berkman ph 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .260
D Borkowski p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000

Totals 33 3 11 3 2 7 20

a-grounded into fielder's choice to shortstop for C Qualls in the 7th;
b-struck out swinging for M Albers in the 8th.

BATTING: 2B - H Pence (25, P Maholm). HR - M Lamb (10, 7th inning off P Maholm
0 on, 0 Out). S - W Rodriguez. RBI - M Lamb (28), H Pence (45), E Bruntlett
(5). 2-out RBI - H Pence. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - M Loretta
2, L Berkman 1, M Ensberg 1, H Pence 2. GIDP - E Bruntlett. Team LOB - 9.

FIELDING: E - M Ensberg (11, throw). DP: 2 (E Bruntlett-M Loretta-M Lamb, M
Ensberg-M Loretta-M Lamb).


PITTSBURGH ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
M Kata 3b 4 2 2 1 0 1 0 .286
F Sanchez 2b 3 3 2 1 1 1 0 .299
A LaRoche 1b 4 0 3 2 0 0 0 .246
X Nady cf 3 0 0 1 0 1 3 .281
J Bay lf 2 0 0 2 0 1 2 .246
R Doumit rf 4 0 1 0 0 2 3 .298
R Paulino c 4 0 1 0 0 0 2 .240
J Wilson ss 4 1 1 0 0 0 2 .252
P Maholm p 3 1 0 0 0 2 0 .162
S Torres p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
D Marte p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000

Totals 31 7 10 7 1 8 12

BATTING: 2B - M Kata (2, W Rodriguez); R Doumit (17, D Borkowski). HR - F
Sanchez (5, 7th inning off M Albers 0 on, 1 Out). SF - J Bay 2. RBI - X Nady
(52), J Bay 2 (60), M Kata (2), A LaRoche 2 (56), F Sanchez (35). Runners left
in scoring position, 2 out - R Doumit 1, J Wilson 1, R Paulino 1. GIDP - J
Wilson, X Nady. Team LOB - 4.

FIELDING: DP: 1 (A LaRoche-J Wilson-A LaRoche).


----------------------------------------------------
HOUSTON - 000 000 21 -- 3
PITTSBURGH - 000 240 10 -- 7
----------------------------------------------------

HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
W Rodriguez 5 7 6 4 1 6 0 4.46
C Qualls 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 3.75
M Albers 1 2 1 1 0 0 1 5.76
D Borkowski 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 4.20

PITTSBURGH ip h r er bb so hr era
P Maholm 6 2/3 8 2 2 2 5 1 4.57
S Torres 1 3 1 1 0 1 0 5.12
D Marte 1/3 0 0 0 0 1 0 1.53

W Rodriguez pitched to 1 batter in the 6th.

IBB - F Sanchez (by W Rodriguez). HBP - X Nady (by W Rodriguez).
Pitches-strikes: W Rodriguez 93-60; C Qualls 7-6; M Albers 15-8; D Borkowski
16-11; P Maholm 97-60; S Torres 25-17; D Marte 9-7. Ground balls-fly balls: W
Rodriguez 3-7; C Qualls 2-0; M Albers 3-0; D Borkowski 1-1; P Maholm 9-6; S
Torres 2-0; D Marte 0-0. Batters faced: W Rodriguez 25; C Qualls 2; M Albers 4;
D Borkowski 4; P Maholm 29; S Torres 6; D Marte 1.

UMPIRES: HP--Ed Rapuano. 1B--Ed Hickox. 2B--C.B. Bucknor. 3B--Joe West.

(Plus ceremonies delay totaling 11 minutes in the 1st). Weather: 74 degrees,
partly cloudy. Wind: 8 mph, out to right.</div>

 

NL: HOUSTON at PITTSBURGH

<div class="pre">NL AT PITTSBURGH - MID INNING UPDATE
PLAY: X Nady in right field.
SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, NONE ON, 0 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: HOUSTON 3
PITTSBURGH 7 TOP, 9TH

DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: C Burke (.231, 0-FOR-4)</div>

 

NL: HOUSTON at PITTSBURGH

<div class="pre">NL AT PITTSBURGH - PITCHING CHANGE
PIT: SHAWN CHACON (4-2, 3.53) STARTING THE 9TH
CURRENT SCORE: HOUSTON 3, PITTSBURGH 7

DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: C BURKE (.231, 0-FOR-4)</div>

 

NL: HOUSTON at PITTSBURGH

<div class="pre">NL AT PITTSBURGH - MID INNING UPDATE
PLAY: S Chacon relieved D Marte.
SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, NONE ON, 0 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: HOUSTON 3
PITTSBURGH 7 TOP, 9TH

DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: C Burke (.231, 0-FOR-4)</div>

 

NL: HOUSTON at PITTSBURGH

<div class="pre">NL AT PITTSBURGH - MID INNING UPDATE
PLAY: N McLouth in center field.
SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, NONE ON, 0 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: HOUSTON 3
PITTSBURGH 7 TOP, 9TH

DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: C Burke (.231, 0-FOR-4)</div>

 

NL: HOUSTON at PITTSBURGH

<div class="pre">NL FINAL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
HOUSTON 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 1 0 3 11 1
PITTSBURGH 0 0 0 2 4 0 1 0 x 7 10 0 (FINAL)

BATTERIES: HOU - WANDY RODRIGUEZ, CHAD QUALLS (6TH), MATT ALBERS (7TH), DAVE
BORKOWSKI (8TH) AND BRAD AUSMUS

PIT - PAUL MAHOLM, SALOMON TORRES (7TH), DAMASO MARTE
(8TH), SHAWN CHACON (9TH) AND RONNY PAULINO

HOME RUNS: HOU - MIKE LAMB (10) OFF PAUL MAHOLM IN THE 7TH, 0 ON

PIT - FREDDY SANCHEZ (5) OFF MATT ALBERS IN THE 7TH, 0 ON</div>

 

NL: HOUSTON at PITTSBURGH

<div class="pre">NL FINAL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
HOUSTON 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 1 0 3 11 1
PITTSBURGH 0 0 0 2 4 0 1 0 x 7 10 0 (FINAL)

BATTERIES: HOU - WANDY RODRIGUEZ, CHAD QUALLS (6TH), MATT ALBERS (7TH), DAVE
BORKOWSKI (8TH) AND BRAD AUSMUS

PIT - PAUL MAHOLM, SALOMON TORRES (7TH), DAMASO MARTE
(8TH), SHAWN CHACON (9TH) AND RONNY PAULINO


WP - PAUL MAHOLM (6-12)
LP - WANDY RODRIGUEZ (6-9)
SAVE - NONE

HOME RUNS: HOU - MIKE LAMB (10) OFF PAUL MAHOLM IN THE 7TH, 0 ON

PIT - FREDDY SANCHEZ (5) OFF MATT ALBERS IN THE 7TH, 0 ON


TIME: 2:52 ATT: 32,068

PROBABLES: HOU - WOODY WILLIAMS (4-11, 5.37)
PIT - SHANE YOUMAN (2-1, 4.24)</div>

 

NL: HOUSTON at PITTSBURGH

<div class="pre">HOUSTON (3) VS PITTSBURGH (7) - FINAL

HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Burke rf 5 0 0 0 0 2 4 .230
H Pence cf 5 0 2 1 0 0 2 .329
M Loretta 2b 4 0 1 0 1 0 2 .309
C Lee lf 5 0 1 0 0 2 3 .295
M Ensberg 3b 4 1 1 0 0 3 3 .232
M Lamb 1b 4 1 3 1 0 0 1 .305
E Bruntlett ss 4 1 3 1 0 0 1 .315
B Ausmus c 2 0 0 0 2 1 2 .244
W Rodriguez p 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .172
C Qualls p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
a-C Biggio ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .249
M Albers p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .222
b-L Berkman ph 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .260
D Borkowski p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000

Totals 36 3 11 3 3 9 21

a-grounded into fielder's choice to shortstop for C Qualls in the 7th;
b-struck out swinging for M Albers in the 8th.

BATTING: 2B - H Pence (25, P Maholm). HR - M Lamb (10, 7th inning off P Maholm
0 on, 0 Out). S - W Rodriguez. RBI - M Lamb (28), H Pence (45), E Bruntlett
(5). 2-out RBI - H Pence. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - M Loretta
2, C Lee 1, L Berkman 1, M Ensberg 1, H Pence 2. GIDP - E Bruntlett. Team LOB -
10.

FIELDING: E - M Ensberg (11, throw). DP: 2 (E Bruntlett-M Loretta-M Lamb, M
Ensberg-M Loretta-M Lamb).


PITTSBURGH ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
M Kata 3b 4 2 2 1 0 1 0 .286
F Sanchez 2b 3 3 2 1 1 1 0 .299
A LaRoche 1b 4 0 3 2 0 0 0 .246
X Nady cf-rf 3 0 0 1 0 1 3 .281
J Bay lf 2 0 0 2 0 1 2 .246
R Doumit rf 4 0 1 0 0 2 3 .298
S Chacon p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .273
R Paulino c 4 0 1 0 0 0 2 .240
J Wilson ss 4 1 1 0 0 0 2 .252
P Maholm p 3 1 0 0 0 2 0 .162
S Torres p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
D Marte p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
N McLouth cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .231

Totals 31 7 10 7 1 8 12

BATTING: 2B - M Kata (2, W Rodriguez); R Doumit (17, D Borkowski). HR - F
Sanchez (5, 7th inning off M Albers 0 on, 1 Out). SF - J Bay 2. RBI - X Nady
(52), J Bay 2 (60), M Kata (2), A LaRoche 2 (56), F Sanchez (35). Runners left
in scoring position, 2 out - R Doumit 1, J Wilson 1, R Paulino 1. GIDP - J
Wilson, X Nady. Team LOB - 4.

FIELDING: DP: 1 (A LaRoche-J Wilson-A LaRoche).


----------------------------------------------------
HOUSTON - 000 000 210 -- 3
PITTSBURGH - 000 240 10x -- 7
----------------------------------------------------

HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
W Rodriguez (L, 6-9) 5 7 6 4 1 6 0 4.46
C Qualls 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 3.75
M Albers 1 2 1 1 0 0 1 5.76
D Borkowski 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 4.20

PITTSBURGH ip h r er bb so hr era
P Maholm (W, 6-12) 6 2/3 8 2 2 2 5 1 4.57
S Torres (H, 2) 1 3 1 1 0 1 0 5.12
D Marte (H, 10) 1/3 0 0 0 0 1 0 1.53
S Chacon 1 0 0 0 1 2 0 3.48

W Rodriguez pitched to 1 batter in the 6th.

IBB - F Sanchez (by W Rodriguez). HBP - X Nady (by W Rodriguez).
Pitches-strikes: W Rodriguez 93-60; C Qualls 7-6; M Albers 15-8; D Borkowski
16-11; P Maholm 97-60; S Torres 25-17; D Marte 9-7; S Chacon 21-10. Ground
balls-fly balls: W Rodriguez 3-7; C Qualls 2-0; M Albers 3-0; D Borkowski 1-1;
P Maholm 9-6; S Torres 2-0; D Marte 0-0; S Chacon 1-0. Batters faced: W
Rodriguez 25; C Qualls 2; M Albers 4; D Borkowski 4; P Maholm 29; S Torres 6; D
Marte 1; S Chacon 4.

UMPIRES: HP--Ed Rapuano. 1B--Ed Hickox. 2B--C.B. Bucknor. 3B--Joe West.

T--2:52. (Plus ceremonies delay totaling 11 minutes in the 1st). Att--32,068.

Weather: 74 degrees, partly cloudy. Wind: 8 mph, out to right.</div>

 

NL: HOUSTON at PITTSBURGH

<div class="pre">** CONFIRMED **
NL
HOUSTON 3
PITTSBURGH 7 FINAL</div>

 

NL: HOUSTON at PITTSBURGH

<div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
HOUSTON (3) AT PITTSBURGH (7) - HOW THEY SCORED
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

PITTSBURGH 4TH: M Kata singled to left. F Sanchez singled to center,
M Kata to second. A LaRoche singled to center, M Kata to third, F Sanchez to
second. X Nady hit by pitch, M Kata scored, F Sanchez to third, A LaRoche to
second. J Bay hit sacrifice fly to right, F Sanchez scored. R Doumit lined
out to center. R Paulino flied out to left. (2 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors)
HOUSTON 0, PITTSBURGH 2.

PITTSBURGH 5TH: J Wilson singled to left. P Maholm grounded into fielder's
choice to pitcher, J Wilson safe at third on error by third baseman M Ensberg.
M Kata hit a ground rule double to deep right, J Wilson scored, P Maholm to
third. F Sanchez intentionally walked. A LaRoche singled to right, P Maholm
and M Kata scored, F Sanchez to third. X Nady struck out swinging. J Bay hit
sacrifice fly to right, F Sanchez scored, A LaRoche to second. R Doumit struck
out looking. (4 Runs, 3 Hits, 1 Error) HOUSTON 0, PITTSBURGH 6.

HOUSTON 7TH: M Lamb homered to right. E Bruntlett singled to center.
B Ausmus walked, E Bruntlett to second. C Biggio hit for C Qualls. C Biggio
grounded into fielder's choice to shortstop, B Ausmus out at second,
E Bruntlett to third. C Burke struck out swinging. H Pence doubled to left,
E Bruntlett scored, C Biggio to third. S Torres relieved P Maholm. M Loretta
grounded out to third. (2 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 2, PITTSBURGH 6.

PITTSBURGH 7TH: M Albers relieved C Qualls. M Kata grounded out to first.
F Sanchez homered to left center. A LaRoche singled to center. X Nady
grounded into double play, third to second to first, A LaRoche out at second.
(1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 2, PITTSBURGH 7.

HOUSTON 8TH: C Lee grounded out to first. M Ensberg singled to left.
M Lamb singled to right, M Ensberg to third. E Bruntlett singled to center,
M Ensberg scored, M Lamb to second. B Ausmus struck out looking. L Berkman hit
for M Albers. D Marte relieved S Torres. L Berkman struck out swinging. (1 Run,
3 Hits, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 3, PITTSBURGH 7.</div>

 

Maholm avoids 13th loss, helps snap Pirates' long skid

<h3>PITTSBURGH 7, HOUSTON 3</h3>PITTSBURGH (Ticker) -- Paul Maholm seemed an unlikely candidateto end the Pittsburgh Pirates' seven-game skid following theAll-Star break.


Maholm tossed six-plus solid innings and Freddy Sanchez scoredthree times as the Pirates cruised to a 7-3 victory over theHouston Astros on Saturday.


The lefthander, who is 2-0 with a 1.15 ERA against the Astrosthis season and 4-12 with a 5.06 ERA against every other team hehas faced, baffled the Astros before departing with two outs inthe seventh. Maholm (6-12) avoided the dubious honor of beingthe first pitcher in the majors to record 13 losses this season,yielding two runs and eight hits with five strikeouts.

Maholm improved to 5-0 all-time at PNC Park in games playedafter the All-Star break.


Sanchez singled and later scored on a Jason Bay sacrifice fly inPittsburgh's two-run fourth.


In the fifth, Sanchez walked and scored on another sacrifice flyfrom Bay.


Sanchez lined a solo shot to left in the seventh to stake thePirates to a 7-2 lead.


After hitting just one homer through the end of June,Pittsburgh's lone All-Star representative has clubbed four overhis last 11 games, his best power-hitting stretch since hittingfour over a seven-game stretch from September 17-23, 2005.

Matt Kata had two hits and scored twice for the Pirates, whoimproved to 32-18 when scoring four or more runs in a game. Theswitch hitter was making just his second start for Pittsburghsince being recalled from the minors on June 30.


Astros starter Wandy Rodriguez (6-9) set down the first ninebatters he faced - striking out four in the process, but couldnot avoid losing his second straight start. The lefthandersurrendered six runs - four earned - and seven hits over fiveframes, striking out six.


Mike Lamb homered and recorded three hits for the Astros, whohave dropped six of eight following the All-Star break.

 

NL: HOUSTON at PITTSBURGH

<div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
HOUSTON (3) AT PITTSBURGH (7) - EVENT LOG
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Houston Starting Lineups -- C Burke RF, H Pence CF, M Loretta 2B, C Lee LF,
M Ensberg 3B, M Lamb 1B, E Bruntlett SS, B Ausmus C, W Rodriguez LHP.

Pittsburgh Starting Lineups -- M Kata 3B, F Sanchez 2B, A LaRoche 1B, X Nady CF,
J Bay LF, R Doumit RF, R Paulino C, J Wilson SS, P Maholm LHP.

Umpires -- Ed Rapuano (HP), Ed Hickox (1B), C.B. Bucknor (2B), Joe West (3B).


Gametime Weather: 74 degrees, Partly Cloudy, wind out to right at 8 mph.


HOUSTON 1ST: C Burke flied out to left. H Pence singled to shallow left.
M Loretta singled to right, H Pence to second. C Lee struck out looking.
M Ensberg struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 0, PITTSBURGH 0.

PITTSBURGH 1ST: M Kata struck out swinging. F Sanchez struck out swinging.
A LaRoche grounded out to second. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 0,
PITTSBURGH 0.

HOUSTON 2ND: M Lamb singled to center. E Bruntlett grounded into double
play, first to shortstop to first, M Lamb out at second. B Ausmus flied out to
right. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 0, PITTSBURGH 0.

PITTSBURGH 2ND: X Nady popped out to second. J Bay grounded out to third.
R Doumit struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 0, PITTSBURGH 0.

HOUSTON 3RD: W Rodriguez grounded out to pitcher. C Burke lined out to
second. H Pence flied out to center. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 0,
PITTSBURGH 0.

PITTSBURGH 3RD: R Paulino popped out to second. J Wilson popped out to
second. P Maholm struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 0,
PITTSBURGH 0.

HOUSTON 4TH: M Loretta grounded out to pitcher. C Lee singled to left.
M Ensberg struck out looking. M Lamb grounded out to first. (0 Runs, 1 Hit,
0 Errors) HOUSTON 0, PITTSBURGH 0.

PITTSBURGH 4TH: M Kata singled to left. F Sanchez singled to center,
M Kata to second. A LaRoche singled to center, M Kata to third, F Sanchez to
second. X Nady hit by pitch, M Kata scored, F Sanchez to third, A LaRoche to
second. J Bay hit sacrifice fly to right, F Sanchez scored. R Doumit lined
out to center. R Paulino flied out to left. (2 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors)
HOUSTON 0, PITTSBURGH 2.

HOUSTON 5TH: E Bruntlett singled to left. B Ausmus walked, E Bruntlett to
second. W Rodriguez sacrificed to catcher, E Bruntlett to third, B Ausmus to
second. C Burke lined out to second. H Pence flied out to right. (0 Runs,
1 Hit, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 0, PITTSBURGH 2.

PITTSBURGH 5TH: J Wilson singled to left. P Maholm grounded into fielder's
choice to pitcher, J Wilson safe at third on error by third baseman M Ensberg.
M Kata hit a ground rule double to deep right, J Wilson scored, P Maholm to
third. F Sanchez intentionally walked. A LaRoche singled to right, P Maholm
and M Kata scored, F Sanchez to third. X Nady struck out swinging. J Bay hit
sacrifice fly to right, F Sanchez scored, A LaRoche to second. R Doumit struck
out looking. (4 Runs, 3 Hits, 1 Error) HOUSTON 0, PITTSBURGH 6.

HOUSTON 6TH: M Loretta grounded out to second. C Lee grounded out to
pitcher. M Ensberg struck out looking. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 0,
PITTSBURGH 6.

PITTSBURGH 6TH: R Paulino singled to right. C Qualls relieved W Rodriguez.
J Wilson grounded into double play, shortstop to second to first, R Paulino out
at second. P Maholm struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 0,
PITTSBURGH 6.

HOUSTON 7TH: M Lamb homered to right. E Bruntlett singled to center.
B Ausmus walked, E Bruntlett to second. C Biggio hit for C Qualls. C Biggio
grounded into fielder's choice to shortstop, B Ausmus out at second,
E Bruntlett to third. C Burke struck out swinging. H Pence doubled to left,
E Bruntlett scored, C Biggio to third. S Torres relieved P Maholm. M Loretta
grounded out to third. (2 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 2, PITTSBURGH 6.

PITTSBURGH 7TH: M Albers relieved C Qualls. M Kata grounded out to first.
F Sanchez homered to left center. A LaRoche singled to center. X Nady
grounded into double play, third to second to first, A LaRoche out at second.
(1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 2, PITTSBURGH 7.

HOUSTON 8TH: C Lee grounded out to first. M Ensberg singled to left.
M Lamb singled to right, M Ensberg to third. E Bruntlett singled to center,
M Ensberg scored, M Lamb to second. B Ausmus struck out looking. L Berkman hit
for M Albers. D Marte relieved S Torres. L Berkman struck out swinging. (1 Run,
3 Hits, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 3, PITTSBURGH 7.

PITTSBURGH 8TH: D Borkowski relieved M Albers. J Bay struck out swinging.
R Doumit doubled to deep right. R Paulino grounded out to pitcher, R Doumit to
third. J Wilson popped out to second. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 3,
PITTSBURGH 7.

HOUSTON 9TH: X Nady in right field. S Chacon relieved D Marte. N McLouth in
center field. C Burke struck out swinging. H Pence grounded out to second.
M Loretta walked. M Loretta to second on fielder's indifference. C Lee struck
out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) HOUSTON 3, PITTSBURGH 7.</div>

 

Maholm avoids 13th loss, helps snap Pirates' long skid

<h3>PITTSBURGH 7, HOUSTON 3</h3>PITTSBURGH (Ticker) -- Paul Maholm seemed an unlikely candidateto end the Pittsburgh Pirates' seven-game skid following theAll-Star break.


Maholm tossed six-plus solid innings and Freddy Sanchez scoredthree times as the Pirates cruised to a 7-3 victory over theHouston Astros on Saturday.


The lefthander, who is 2-0 with a 1.15 ERA against the Astrosthis season and 4-12 with a 5.06 ERA against every other team hehas faced, baffled the Astros before departing with two outs inthe seventh.


Maholm (6-12) avoided the dubious honor of being the firstpitcher in the majors to record 13 losses this season, yieldingtwo runs and eight hits with five strikeouts.


"This is how I expect to pitch," Maholm said. "It's one ofthose things where it's a pitch here or a hitter there thatwould cost me a good start. Now I'm getting out of jams andmaking the pitches. "Hopefully, this will pull the pressure offus and let us just go out there and relax and just play ball."

Maholm improved to 5-0 all-time at PNC Park in games playedafter the All-Star break.


The Pirates' ended their longest losing streak of the season,which had pushed their record to a season-worst 15 games under.500 before Saturday's triumph.


"This was big because it was getting ugly pretty fast," saidPirates first baseman Adam LaRoche, who had three hits and twoRBI. "It's good to get a win and get back on track. I forgotwhat it feels like (to win)."


"It's been (tough)," Pittsburgh manager Jim Tracy said of thepast eight days. "Get the monkey off of our back and let's getback moving in the direction we were headed in prior to the(All-Star) break (winning nine of 13)."


Sanchez singled and later scored on Jason Bay's sacrifice fly inPittsburgh's two-run fourth. In the fifth, he walked andscored on another sacrifice fly from Bay, capping a four-runoutburst in the frame.


Sanchez, the Pirates' lone All-Star representative, finished offhis great game by lining a solo shot to left in the seventh tostake the Pirates to a 7-2 lead.


After hitting just one homer through the end of June, Sanchezhas clubbed four over his last 11 games, his best power-hittingstretch since hitting four over a seven-game stretch fromSeptember 17-23, 2005.


Matt Kata had two hits and scored twice for the Pirates, whoimproved to 32-18 when scoring four or more runs in a game. Theswitch-hitter was making just his second start for Pittsburghsince being recalled from the minors on June 30.


"As a significant other, as I like to call it, rather than abench player, you come to the yard every day prepared forwhatever and if your name is in the starting lineup, you do yourthing and hopefully contribute to a win," Kata said.

Astros starter Wandy Rodriguez (6-9) set down the first ninebatters he faced - striking out four in the process - but couldnot avoid losing his second straight start. The lefthandersurrendered six runs - four earned - and seven hits over fiveframes, striking out six.


"He pitched pretty well and his stuff was good, he just gave upsome runs," Astros catcher Brad Ausmus said. "I thought he wasgoing to have a good game the way he started, but sometimes youjust never know. Frankly, they didn't hit a lot of balls hardbut they found places to put them and scored runs."

Mike Lamb homered and recorded three hits for the Astros, whohave dropped six of eight following the All-Star break.