GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: NL: PITTSBURGH (55-71) at HOUSTON (57-71)

NL: PITTSBURGH (55-71) at HOUSTON (57-71)

<h3>Lee looks to build off two-homer night against Pirates</h3>

<div class="pre">Pittsburgh (55-71) at Houston (57-71) 8:05 pm EDT</div>

HOUSTON (Ticker) - Carlos Lee hopes to help the Houston Astrosend their recent struggles when the they host the PittsburghPirates on Friday in the opener of a three-game series.

Lee blasted two homers and drove in five runs in the Astros' 7-6setback to the Washington Nationals on Thursday. Prior to thegame, Lee had not homered since August 6.


The Panama native is hitting .305 with 26 blasts and 102 RBIthis season. It is Lee's third consecutive year with at least100 RBI.


The Astros will send spot-starter Matt Albers (3-6, 6.14 ERA) tothe mound. The 24-year-old Albers was tagged for five runs andseven hits with three walks over 5 2/3 innings in a 5-3 loss tothe San Diego Padres on Sunday.


The Pirates will counter with Ian Snell (8-10, 3.93), whoyielded four runs and eight hits with 10 strikeouts over sevensolid frames in an 8-4 triumph over the Philadelphia Phillies onSunday.


The win snapped Snell's five-game losing streak in whichPittsburgh posted an 0-7 record during.


If the Pirates win, they would pull into a tie with the Astrosfor fifth place in the National League Central.

 

NL: PITTSBURGH at HOUSTON

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

PITTSBURGH HOUSTON
AVG HR RBI AVG HR RBI
Nate Mclouth CF .253 10 28 Craig Biggio 2B .255 10 46
Matt Kata 3B .268 1 7 Hunter Pence CF .328 12 46
Freddy Sanchez 2B .309 9 60 Lance Berkman 1B .274 24 81
Adam Laroche 1B .264 18 71 Carlos Lee LF .305 26 102
Jason Bay LF .250 19 81 Mike Lamb 3B .288 11 38
Jose Bautista RF .261 10 45 Luke Scott RF .253 14 55
Ronny Paulino C .242 9 40 Mark Loretta SS .281 2 30
Jack Wilson SS .272 7 39 Eric Munson C .252 4 13
Ian Snell RHP .098 0 1 Matt Albers RHP .118 0 0
(8-10, 3.93) (3-6, 6.14)</div>

 

NL: PITTSBURGH at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NL AT HOUSTON
WARMUPS: PIT - IAN SNELL (8-10, 3.93)
HOU - MATT ALBERS (3-6, 6.14)

UMPIRES: HP - CHUCK MERIWETHER
1B - TIM TIMMONS
2B - ADAM DOWDY
3B - ALFONSO MARQUEZ

WEATHER: INDOORS</div>

 

NL: PITTSBURGH at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NL AT HOUSTON
STARTING BATS: PIT - IAN SNELL AND RONNY PAULINO
HOU - MATT ALBERS AND ERIC MUNSON

DUE UP FOR PITTSBURGH: N MCLOUTH (.253, 10 HR, 28 RBI)
M KATA (.268, 1 HR, 7 RBI)
F SANCHEZ (.309, 9 HR, 60 RBI)</div>

 

NL: PITTSBURGH at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NL AT HOUSTON - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY ADAM LAROCHE SCORED NATE MCLOUTH.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, A LAROCHE ON FIRST, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: PITTSBURGH 1
HOUSTON 0 TOP, 1ST

DUE UP FOR PITTSBURGH: J BAY (.250, 19 HR, 81 RBI)</div>

 

NL: PITTSBURGH at HOUSTON

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: PIT - IAN SNELL
HOU - MATT ALBERS

DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: C BIGGIO (.255, 10 HR, 46 RBI)
H PENCE (.328, 12 HR, 46 RBI)
L BERKMAN (.274, 24 HR, 81 RBI)</div>

 

NL: PITTSBURGH at HOUSTON

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

PITTSBURGH ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
N McLouth cf 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 .252
M Kata 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .262
F Sanchez 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .308
A LaRoche 1b 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .265
J Bay lf 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .249
J Bautista rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .261
R Paulino c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .242
J Wilson ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .272
I Snell p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .098

Totals 5 1 1 1 0 2 3

BATTING: RBI - A LaRoche (72). 2-out RBI - A LaRoche. Team LOB - 1.

BASERUNNING: SB - N McLouth (11, 2nd base off M Albers/E Munson).


HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Biggio 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .255
H Pence cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .328
L Berkman 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .274
C Lee lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .305
M Lamb 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .288
L Scott rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .253
M Loretta ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .281
E Munson c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .252
M Albers p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .118

Totals 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.

FIELDING: E - C Biggio (9, ground ball).


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

PITTSBURGH ip h r er bb so hr era
I Snell 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3.93

HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
M Albers 1 1 1 0 0 2 0 6.05

Pitches-strikes: M Albers 30-21. Ground balls-fly balls: M Albers 0-1.
Batters faced: M Albers 5.

UMPIRES: HP--Chuck Meriwether. 1B--Tim Timmons. 2B--Adam Dowdy. 3B--Alfonso
Marquez.

Weather: INDOORS.</div>

 

NL: PITTSBURGH at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NL AT HOUSTON
CONFIRMED STARTERS: PIT - IAN SNELL
HOU - MATT ALBERS</div>

 

NL: PITTSBURGH at HOUSTON

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: PIT - IAN SNELL
HOU - MATT ALBERS

DUE UP FOR PITTSBURGH: J BAUTISTA (.261, 10 HR, 45 RBI)
R PAULINO (.242, 9 HR, 40 RBI)
J WILSON (.272, 7 HR, 39 RBI)</div>

 

NL: PITTSBURGH at HOUSTON

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

PITTSBURGH ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
N McLouth cf 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 .252
M Kata 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .262
F Sanchez 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .308
A LaRoche 1b 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .265
J Bay lf 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .249
J Bautista rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .261
R Paulino c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .242
J Wilson ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .272
I Snell p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .098

Totals 5 1 1 1 0 2 3

BATTING: RBI - A LaRoche (72). 2-out RBI - A LaRoche. Team LOB - 1.

BASERUNNING: SB - N McLouth (11, 2nd base off M Albers/E Munson).


HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Biggio 2b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .255
H Pence cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .327
L Berkman 1b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .273
C Lee lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .305
M Lamb 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .288
L Scott rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .253
M Loretta ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .281
E Munson c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .252
M Albers p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .118

Totals 3 0 0 0 0 2 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.

FIELDING: E - C Biggio (9, ground ball).


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

PITTSBURGH ip h r er bb so hr era
I Snell 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 3.90

HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
M Albers 1 1 1 0 0 2 0 6.05

Pitches-strikes: I Snell 11-7; M Albers 30-21. Ground balls-fly balls: I
Snell 0-1; M Albers 0-1. Batters faced: I Snell 3; M Albers 5.

UMPIRES: HP--Chuck Meriwether. 1B--Tim Timmons. 2B--Adam Dowdy. 3B--Alfonso
Marquez.

Weather: INDOORS.</div>

 

NL: PITTSBURGH at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NL AT HOUSTON - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY JACK WILSON SCORED JOSE BAUTISTA.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, J WILSON ON FIRST, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: PITTSBURGH 2
HOUSTON 0 TOP, 2ND

DUE UP FOR PITTSBURGH: I SNELL (.098, 0 HR, 1 RBI)</div>

 

NL: PITTSBURGH at HOUSTON

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: PIT - IAN SNELL
HOU - MATT ALBERS

DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: C LEE (.305, 26 HR, 102 RBI)
M LAMB (.288, 11 HR, 38 RBI)
L SCOTT (.253, 14 HR, 55 RBI)</div>

 

NL: PITTSBURGH at HOUSTON

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

PITTSBURGH ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
N McLouth cf 2 1 0 0 0 0 1 .251
M Kata 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .262
F Sanchez 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .308
A LaRoche 1b 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .265
J Bay lf 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .249
J Bautista rf 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .263
R Paulino c 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .241
J Wilson ss 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .274
I Snell p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .098

Totals 9 2 3 2 0 2 5

BATTING: 2B - J Bautista (30, M Albers). S - I Snell. RBI - A LaRoche (72), J
Wilson (40). 2-out RBI - A LaRoche. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - N
McLouth 1. Team LOB - 2.

BASERUNNING: SB - N McLouth (11, 2nd base off M Albers/E Munson).


HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Biggio 2b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .255
H Pence cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .327
L Berkman 1b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .273
C Lee lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .305
M Lamb 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .288
L Scott rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .253
M Loretta ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .281
E Munson c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .252
M Albers p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .118

Totals 3 0 0 0 0 2 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.

FIELDING: E - C Biggio (9, ground ball).


----------------------------------------------------
PITTSBURGH - 11 -- 2
HOUSTON - 0 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

PITTSBURGH ip h r er bb so hr era
I Snell 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 3.90

HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
M Albers 2 3 2 1 0 2 0 6.09

Pitches-strikes: I Snell 11-7; M Albers 47-32. Ground balls-fly balls: I
Snell 0-1; M Albers 2-2. Batters faced: I Snell 3; M Albers 10.

UMPIRES: HP--Chuck Meriwether. 1B--Tim Timmons. 2B--Adam Dowdy. 3B--Alfonso
Marquez.

Weather: INDOORS.</div>

 

NL: PITTSBURGH at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NL AT HOUSTON - SCORING UPDATE
SACRIFICE FLY BY ERIC MUNSON SCORED CARLOS LEE.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, L SCOTT ON FIRST, M LAMB ON SECOND, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: PITTSBURGH 2
HOUSTON 1 BOTTOM, 2ND

DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: M ALBERS (.118, 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 1 1 2 3 0
HOUSTON 0 1 1 3 1 (TOP 3)

CURRENT PITCHERS: PIT - IAN SNELL
HOU - MATT ALBERS

DUE UP FOR PITTSBURGH: M KATA (.262, 0-FOR-1)
F SANCHEZ (.308, 0-FOR-1)
A LAROCHE (.265, 1-FOR-1, RBI)</div>

 

NL: PITTSBURGH at HOUSTON

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

PITTSBURGH ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
N McLouth cf 2 1 0 0 0 0 1 .251
M Kata 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .262
F Sanchez 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .308
A LaRoche 1b 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .265
J Bay lf 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .249
J Bautista rf 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .263
R Paulino c 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .241
J Wilson ss 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .274
I Snell p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .098

Totals 9 2 3 2 0 2 5

BATTING: 2B - J Bautista (30, M Albers). S - I Snell. RBI - A LaRoche (72), J
Wilson (40). 2-out RBI - A LaRoche. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - N
McLouth 1. Team LOB - 2.

BASERUNNING: SB - N McLouth (11, 2nd base off M Albers/E Munson).


HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Biggio 2b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .255
H Pence cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .327
L Berkman 1b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .273
C Lee lf 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .306
M Lamb 3b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .290
L Scott rf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .256
M Loretta ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 3 .280
E Munson c 0 0 0 1 0 0 2 .252
M Albers p 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .111

Totals 8 1 3 1 0 3 7

BATTING: SF - E Munson. RBI - E Munson (14). Runners left in scoring position,
2 out - M Albers 1. Team LOB - 2.

FIELDING: E - C Biggio (9, ground ball).


----------------------------------------------------
PITTSBURGH - 11 -- 2
HOUSTON - 01 -- 1
----------------------------------------------------

PITTSBURGH ip h r er bb so hr era
I Snell 2 3 1 1 0 3 0 3.94

HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
M Albers 2 3 2 1 0 2 0 6.09

Pitches-strikes: I Snell 36-22; M Albers 47-32. Ground balls-fly balls: I
Snell 0-3; M Albers 2-2. Batters faced: I Snell 9; M Albers 10.

UMPIRES: HP--Chuck Meriwether. 1B--Tim Timmons. 2B--Adam Dowdy. 3B--Alfonso
Marquez.

Weather: INDOORS.</div>

 

NL: PITTSBURGH at HOUSTON

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: PIT - IAN SNELL
HOU - MATT ALBERS

DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: C BIGGIO (.255, 0-FOR-1)
H PENCE (.327, 0-FOR-1)
L BERKMAN (.273, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

NL: PITTSBURGH at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">PITTSBURGH (2) VS HOUSTON (1) - MID 3RD - IN PROGRESS

PITTSBURGH ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
N McLouth cf 2 1 0 0 0 0 1 .251
M Kata 3b 2 0 0 0 0 1 1 .256
F Sanchez 2b 2 0 0 0 0 1 1 .308
A LaRoche 1b 2 0 2 1 0 0 0 .267
J Bay lf 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .249
J Bautista rf 2 1 1 0 0 0 2 .263
R Paulino c 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .241
J Wilson ss 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .274
I Snell p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .098

Totals 13 2 4 2 0 3 7

BATTING: 2B - J Bautista (30, M Albers). S - I Snell. RBI - A LaRoche (72), J
Wilson (40). 2-out RBI - A LaRoche. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - N
McLouth 1, J Bautista 1. Team LOB - 4.

BASERUNNING: SB - N McLouth (11, 2nd base off M Albers/E Munson).


HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Biggio 2b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .255
H Pence cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .327
L Berkman 1b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .273
C Lee lf 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .306
M Lamb 3b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .290
L Scott rf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .256
M Loretta ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 3 .280
E Munson c 0 0 0 1 0 0 2 .252
M Albers p 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .111

Totals 8 1 3 1 0 3 7

BATTING: SF - E Munson. RBI - E Munson (14). Runners left in scoring position,
2 out - M Albers 1. Team LOB - 2.

FIELDING: E - C Biggio (9, ground ball).


----------------------------------------------------
PITTSBURGH - 110 -- 2
HOUSTON - 01 -- 1
----------------------------------------------------

PITTSBURGH ip h r er bb so hr era
I Snell 2 3 1 1 0 3 0 3.94

HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
M Albers 3 4 2 1 0 3 0 6.01

HBP - J Bay (by M Albers). Pitches-strikes: I Snell 36-22; M Albers 64-42.
Ground balls-fly balls: I Snell 0-3; M Albers 4-2. Batters faced: I Snell 9; M
Albers 15.

UMPIRES: HP--Chuck Meriwether. 1B--Tim Timmons. 2B--Adam Dowdy. 3B--Alfonso
Marquez.

Weather: INDOORS.</div>

 

NL: PITTSBURGH at HOUSTON

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: PIT - IAN SNELL
HOU - MATT ALBERS

DUE UP FOR PITTSBURGH: R PAULINO (.241, 0-FOR-1)
J WILSON (.274, 1-FOR-1, RBI)
I SNELL (.098, 0-FOR-0, SAC)</div>

 

NL: PITTSBURGH at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">PITTSBURGH (2) VS HOUSTON (1) - END 3RD - IN PROGRESS

PITTSBURGH ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
N McLouth cf 2 1 0 0 0 0 1 .251
M Kata 3b 2 0 0 0 0 1 1 .256
F Sanchez 2b 2 0 0 0 0 1 1 .308
A LaRoche 1b 2 0 2 1 0 0 0 .267
J Bay lf 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .249
J Bautista rf 2 1 1 0 0 0 2 .263
R Paulino c 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .241
J Wilson ss 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .274
I Snell p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .098

Totals 13 2 4 2 0 3 7

BATTING: 2B - J Bautista (30, M Albers). S - I Snell. RBI - A LaRoche (72), J
Wilson (40). 2-out RBI - A LaRoche. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - N
McLouth 1, J Bautista 1. Team LOB - 4.

BASERUNNING: SB - N McLouth (11, 2nd base off M Albers/E Munson).


HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Biggio 2b 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 .254
H Pence cf 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .326
L Berkman 1b 2 0 0 0 0 2 0 .273
C Lee lf 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .306
M Lamb 3b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .290
L Scott rf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .256
M Loretta ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 3 .280
E Munson c 0 0 0 1 0 0 2 .252
M Albers p 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .111

Totals 11 1 3 1 0 4 7

BATTING: SF - E Munson. RBI - E Munson (14). Runners left in scoring position,
2 out - M Albers 1. Team LOB - 2.

FIELDING: E - C Biggio (9, ground ball).


----------------------------------------------------
PITTSBURGH - 110 -- 2
HOUSTON - 010 -- 1
----------------------------------------------------

PITTSBURGH ip h r er bb so hr era
I Snell 3 3 1 1 0 4 0 3.91

HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
M Albers 3 4 2 1 0 3 0 6.01

HBP - J Bay (by M Albers). Pitches-strikes: I Snell 45-29; M Albers 64-42.
Ground balls-fly balls: I Snell 0-5; M Albers 4-2. Batters faced: I Snell 12; M
Albers 15.

UMPIRES: HP--Chuck Meriwether. 1B--Tim Timmons. 2B--Adam Dowdy. 3B--Alfonso
Marquez.

Weather: INDOORS.</div>