GAME THREAD: NL: PITTSBURGH (57-71) at HOUSTON (57-73)

NL: PITTSBURGH (57-71) at HOUSTON (57-73)

<h3>Armas, Pirates aim for second road sweep of Astros</h3>

<div class="pre">Pittsburgh (57-71) at Houston (57-73) 2:05 pm EDT</div>

HOUSTON (Ticker) -- The Pittsburgh Pirates have climbed out ofthe National League Central basement, thanks in part to theirplay in Houston.


The Pirates make a play for their second road sweep of theHouston Astros this season when the two clubs complete athree-game series on Sunday.


Jose Batista homered twice in support of six effective inningsby Matt Morris as Pittsburgh improved to 5-0 in Houston with a4-1 win on Saturday.


With their fourth straight win, the Pirates has moved ahead ofHouston in the NL Central standings. They are the only team tosweep the Astros at home this season. Tony Armas (2-4, 7.08ERA) will try to continue the momentum as he aims for his thirdwin of the month.


After coming out on top in his first two starts of August, Armashas struggled, giving up 12 runs and 14 hits in seven inningsover two starts.


Meanwhile, Wandy Rodriguez (7-12, 4.58) is the right man to haveon the mound as the Astros try and avoid being swept for thefirst time since July 13-15 at the Chicago Cubs.


Rodriguez is 6-3 with a 2.28 ERA at Minute Maid Park, and willlook to make up for a subpar home outing his last time out. Thelefthander allowed seven runs and six hits in 5 1/3 innings inan 11-6 loss to the Washington Nationals on Tuesday.

 

NL: PITTSBURGH at HOUSTON

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

PITTSBURGH HOUSTON
AVG HR RBI AVG HR RBI
Nate Mclouth CF .248 10 28 Chris Burke 2B .228 4 21
Jose Bautista RF .264 12 48 Hunter Pence CF .324 12 46
Freddy Sanchez 2B .306 9 60 Lance Berkman 1B .268 24 81
Josh Phelps C .457 5 15 Carlos Lee LF .308 26 102
Jason Bay LF .253 19 81 Luke Scott RF .251 14 55
Adam Laroche 1B .264 19 75 Ty Wigginton 3B .264 2 7
Jose Castillo 3B .249 0 20 Mark Loretta SS .280 2 31
Cesar Izturis SS .251 0 9 Brad Ausmus C .233 3 22
Tony Armas RHP .188 0 2 Wandy Rodriguez LHP .132 0 1
(2-4, 7.08) (7-12, 4.58)</div>

 

NL: PITTSBURGH at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NL AT HOUSTON
WARMUPS: PIT - TONY ARMAS (2-4, 7.08)
HOU - WANDY RODRIGUEZ (7-12, 4.58)

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

WEATHER: INDOORS</div>

 

NL: PITTSBURGH at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NL AT HOUSTON
NOTE: THE START OF THE GAME IS BEING DELAYED DUE TO
CEREMONIES.</div>

 

NL: PITTSBURGH at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NL AT HOUSTON -- REVISED WARMUPS
WARMUPS: PIT - TONY ARMAS (2-4, 7.08)
HOU - WANDY RODRIGUEZ (7-12, 4.58)

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

WEATHER: INDOORS</div>

 

NL: PITTSBURGH at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NL AT HOUSTON
NOTE: THE GAME IS UNDERWAY AFTER A 19 MINUTE DELAY.</div>

 

NL: PITTSBURGH at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NL AT HOUSTON
STARTING BATS: PIT - TONY ARMAS AND JOSH PHELPS
HOU - WANDY RODRIGUEZ AND BRAD AUSMUS

DUE UP FOR PITTSBURGH: N MCLOUTH (.248, 10 HR, 28 RBI)
J BAUTISTA (.264, 12 HR, 48 RBI)
F SANCHEZ (.306, 9 HR, 60 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 - TONY ARMAS
HOU - WANDY RODRIGUEZ

DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: C BURKE (.228, 4 HR, 21 RBI)
H PENCE (.324, 12 HR, 46 RBI)
L BERKMAN (.268, 24 HR, 81 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 McLouth cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .247
J Bautista rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .263
F Sanchez 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .306
J Phelps c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .457
J Bay lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .253
A LaRoche 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .264
J Castillo 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .249
C Izturis ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .251
T Armas p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .188

Totals 3 0 0 0 0 2 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Burke 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .228
H Pence cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .324
L Berkman 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .268
C Lee lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .308
L Scott rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .251
T Wigginton 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .264
M Loretta ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .280
B Ausmus c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .233
W Rodriguez p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .132

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
T Armas 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 7.08

HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
W Rodriguez 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 4.55

Pitches-strikes: W Rodriguez 17-14. Ground balls-fly balls: W Rodriguez 0-1.
Batters faced: W Rodriguez 3.

UMPIRES: HP--Adam Dowdy. 1B--Alfonso Marquez. 2B--Chuck Meriwether. 3B--Tim
Timmons.
(Plus ceremonies delay totaling 19 minutes in the 1st).
Weather: INDOORS.</div>

 

NL: PITTSBURGH at HOUSTON

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

 

NL: PITTSBURGH at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NL AT HOUSTON - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY LANCE BERKMAN SCORED CHRIS BURKE.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, L BERKMAN ON FIRST, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: PITTSBURGH 0
HOUSTON 1 BOTTOM, 1ST

DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: C LEE (.308, 26 HR, 102 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 1 1 2 0 (TOP 2)

CURRENT PITCHERS: PIT - TONY ARMAS
HOU - WANDY RODRIGUEZ

DUE UP FOR PITTSBURGH: J PHELPS (.457, 5 HR, 15 RBI)
J BAY (.253, 19 HR, 81 RBI)
A LAROCHE (.264, 19 HR, 75 RBI)</div>

 

NL: PITTSBURGH at HOUSTON

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

PITTSBURGH ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
N McLouth cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .247
J Bautista rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .263
F Sanchez 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .306
J Phelps c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .457
J Bay lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .253
A LaRoche 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .264
J Castillo 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .249
C Izturis ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .251
T Armas p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .188

Totals 3 0 0 0 0 2 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.

FIELDING: Outfield assists - J Bautista (L Berkman at Home).


HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Burke 2b 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 .228
H Pence cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .323
L Berkman 1b 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .269
C Lee lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .307
L Scott rf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .253
T Wigginton 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .264
M Loretta ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .280
B Ausmus c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .233
W Rodriguez p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .132

Totals 4 1 2 1 0 1 1

BATTING: RBI - L Berkman (82). Team LOB - 1.

BASERUNNING: SB - C Burke (8, 2nd base off T Armas/J Phelps).


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

PITTSBURGH ip h r er bb so hr era
T Armas 1 2 1 1 0 1 0 7.11

HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
W Rodriguez 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 4.55

HBP - C Burke (by T Armas). Pitches-strikes: T Armas 18-14; W Rodriguez
17-14. Ground balls-fly balls: T Armas 1-0; W Rodriguez 0-1. Batters faced: T
Armas 5; W Rodriguez 3.

UMPIRES: HP--Adam Dowdy. 1B--Alfonso Marquez. 2B--Chuck Meriwether. 3B--Tim
Timmons.
(Plus ceremonies delay totaling 19 minutes in the 1st).
Weather: INDOORS.</div>

 

NL: PITTSBURGH at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NL AT HOUSTON - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY CESAR IZTURIS SCORED JASON BAY.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, C IZTURIS ON FIRST, A LAROCHE ON SECOND, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: PITTSBURGH 1
HOUSTON 1 TOP, 2ND

DUE UP FOR PITTSBURGH: T ARMAS (.188, 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 3 0
HOUSTON 1 1 2 0 (BOT 2)

CURRENT PITCHERS: PIT - TONY ARMAS
HOU - WANDY RODRIGUEZ

DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: T WIGGINTON (.264, 2 HR, 7 RBI)
M LORETTA (.280, 2 HR, 31 RBI)
B AUSMUS (.233, 3 HR, 22 RBI)</div>

 

NL: PITTSBURGH at HOUSTON

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

PITTSBURGH ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
N McLouth cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .247
J Bautista rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .263
F Sanchez 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .306
J Phelps c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .447
J Bay lf 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .255
A LaRoche 1b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .266
J Castillo 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .247
C Izturis ss 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .254
T Armas p 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .176

Totals 9 1 3 1 0 4 4

BATTING: 2B - J Bay (22, W Rodriguez). RBI - C Izturis (10). 2-out RBI - C
Izturis. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - T Armas 1. Team LOB - 2.

FIELDING: Outfield assists - J Bautista (L Berkman at Home).


HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Burke 2b 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 .228
H Pence cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .323
L Berkman 1b 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .269
C Lee lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .307
L Scott rf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .253
T Wigginton 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .264
M Loretta ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .280
B Ausmus c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .233
W Rodriguez p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .132

Totals 4 1 2 1 0 1 1

BATTING: RBI - L Berkman (82). Team LOB - 1.

BASERUNNING: SB - C Burke (8, 2nd base off T Armas/J Phelps).


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

PITTSBURGH ip h r er bb so hr era
T Armas 1 2 1 1 0 1 0 7.11

HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
W Rodriguez 2 3 1 1 0 4 0 4.58

HBP - C Burke (by T Armas). Pitches-strikes: T Armas 18-14; W Rodriguez
42-29. Ground balls-fly balls: T Armas 1-0; W Rodriguez 0-2. Batters faced: T
Armas 5; W Rodriguez 9.

UMPIRES: HP--Adam Dowdy. 1B--Alfonso Marquez. 2B--Chuck Meriwether. 3B--Tim
Timmons.
(Plus ceremonies delay totaling 19 minutes in the 1st).
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 3 0
HOUSTON 1 0 1 3 0 (TOP 3)

CURRENT PITCHERS: PIT - TONY ARMAS
HOU - WANDY RODRIGUEZ

DUE UP FOR PITTSBURGH: N MCLOUTH (.247, 0-FOR-1)
J BAUTISTA (.263, 0-FOR-1)
F SANCHEZ (.306, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

NL: PITTSBURGH at HOUSTON

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

PITTSBURGH ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
N McLouth cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .247
J Bautista rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .263
F Sanchez 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .306
J Phelps c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .447
J Bay lf 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .255
A LaRoche 1b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .266
J Castillo 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .247
C Izturis ss 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .254
T Armas p 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .176

Totals 9 1 3 1 0 4 4

BATTING: 2B - J Bay (22, W Rodriguez). RBI - C Izturis (10). 2-out RBI - C
Izturis. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - T Armas 1. Team LOB - 2.

FIELDING: Outfield assists - J Bautista (L Berkman at Home).


HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Burke 2b 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 .228
H Pence cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .323
L Berkman 1b 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .269
C Lee lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .307
L Scott rf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .253
T Wigginton 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .260
M Loretta ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .279
B Ausmus c 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .236
W Rodriguez p 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .128

Totals 8 1 3 1 0 1 2

BATTING: RBI - L Berkman (82). Team LOB - 2.

BASERUNNING: SB - C Burke (8, 2nd base off T Armas/J Phelps).


----------------------------------------------------
PITTSBURGH - 01 -- 1
HOUSTON - 10 -- 1
----------------------------------------------------

PITTSBURGH ip h r er bb so hr era
T Armas 2 3 1 1 0 1 0 7.00

HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
W Rodriguez 2 3 1 1 0 4 0 4.58

HBP - C Burke (by T Armas). Pitches-strikes: T Armas 34-25; W Rodriguez
42-29. Ground balls-fly balls: T Armas 2-2; W Rodriguez 0-2. Batters faced: T
Armas 9; W Rodriguez 9.

UMPIRES: HP--Adam Dowdy. 1B--Alfonso Marquez. 2B--Chuck Meriwether. 3B--Tim
Timmons.
(Plus ceremonies delay totaling 19 minutes in the 1st).
Weather: INDOORS.</div>

 

NL: PITTSBURGH at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NL AT HOUSTON - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY ADAM LAROCHE SCORED JOSE BAUTISTA AND FREDDY
SANCHEZ.
SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, A LAROCHE ON SECOND, J PHELPS ON THIRD, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: PITTSBURGH 3
HOUSTON 1 TOP, 3RD

DUE UP FOR PITTSBURGH: J CASTILLO (.247, 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 2 3 4 0
HOUSTON 1 0 1 3 0 (BOT 3)

CURRENT PITCHERS: PIT - TONY ARMAS
HOU - WANDY RODRIGUEZ

DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: C BURKE (.228, 0-FOR-0, HBP)
H PENCE (.323, 0-FOR-1)
L BERKMAN (.269, 1-FOR-1, RBI)</div>