GAME THREAD: NL: PITTSBURGH (65-81) at HOUSTON (63-83)

NL: PITTSBURGH at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">PITTSBURGH (4) VS HOUSTON (3) - END 8TH - IN PROGRESS

PITTSBURGH ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
N Morgan cf 5 0 0 0 0 1 3 .204
N McLouth lf 4 0 1 0 0 2 2 .251
F Sanchez 2b 4 1 2 0 0 0 1 .314
A LaRoche 1b 4 1 1 0 0 0 3 .274
J Bautista 3b 4 1 2 2 0 0 1 .265
S Pearce rf 4 1 1 0 0 0 1 .310
R Paulino c 4 0 1 1 0 2 1 .261
J Wilson ss 2 0 1 0 2 0 0 .290
I Snell p 2 0 0 0 0 2 3 .096
a-M Kata ph 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .274
F Osoria p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
D Marte p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
R Sanchez p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
b-J Phelps ph 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .385
S Chacon p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .273

Totals 35 4 10 3 2 8 17

a-singled to center for I Snell in the 7th; b-struck out looking for R Sanchez
in the 8th.

BATTING: 2B - F Sanchez (42, R Oswalt). 3B - J Bautista (2, R Oswalt). HR - J
Bautista (15, 8th inning off C Qualls 1 on, 1 Out). RBI - J Bautista 2 (61), R
Paulino (50). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - A LaRoche 1, N McLouth
1, I Snell 1, N Morgan 1. Team LOB - 9.

BASERUNNING: SB - N Morgan (1, 2nd base off R Oswalt/B Ausmus), S Pearce (2,
2nd base off C Qualls/B Ausmus).

FIELDING: E - F Sanchez (6, catch).


HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Anderson cf 5 0 2 1 0 1 1 .250
C Biggio 2b 3 0 0 0 0 2 2 .251
C Burke 2b 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .225
H Pence rf 4 0 1 0 1 0 3 .327
L Berkman 1b 2 1 1 1 2 0 1 .275
L Scott lf 3 0 0 0 1 2 2 .258
T Wigginton 3b 4 1 2 0 0 1 3 .296
C Ransom ss 2 1 0 0 1 0 1 .091
B Ausmus c 3 0 1 0 0 2 2 .235
a-M Lamb ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .287
R Oswalt p 3 0 0 1 0 1 2 .129
C Qualls p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
b-C Lee ph 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .296
E Bruntlett pr 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .240

Totals 32 3 8 3 5 10 20

a-flied out to left for B Ausmus in the 8th; b-doubled to left for C Qualls in
the 8th.

BATTING: 2B - T Wigginton 2 (8, I Snell 2); C Lee (40, S Chacon). HR - L
Berkman (30, 7th inning off D Marte 0 on, 1 Out). S - C Biggio. RBI - R Oswalt
(3), L Berkman (91), J Anderson (1). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out -
T Wigginton 2, R Oswalt 1, C Biggio 1, L Scott 1, H Pence 1. Team LOB - 12.

FIELDING: E - H Pence (5, bobble); L Berkman (13, ground ball).


----------------------------------------------------
PITTSBURGH - 001 000 03 -- 4
HOUSTON - 000 001 11 -- 3
----------------------------------------------------

PITTSBURGH ip h r er bb so hr era
I Snell 6 5 1 1 5 8 0 3.92
F Osoria 1/3 0 0 0 0 0 0 4.29
D Marte 1/3 1 1 1 0 0 1 2.23
R Sanchez 1/3 0 0 0 0 1 0 1.80
S Chacon 1 2 1 1 0 1 0 3.98

HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
R Oswalt 7 6 1 0 1 6 0 3.29
C Qualls 1 4 3 3 1 2 1 3.30

WP - I Snell 2. IBB - J Wilson (by R Oswalt). HBP - C Ransom (by S Chacon).
Pitches-strikes: I Snell 116-69; F Osoria 2-2; D Marte 6-4; R Sanchez 7-4; S
Chacon 13-8; R Oswalt 110-80; C Qualls 41-20. Ground balls-fly balls: I Snell
5-6; F Osoria 1-0; D Marte 0-1; R Sanchez 0-0; S Chacon 0-2; R Oswalt 11-4; C
Qualls 1-0. Batters faced: I Snell 29; F Osoria 1; D Marte 2; R Sanchez 1; S
Chacon 6; R Oswalt 29; C Qualls 8.

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

Weather: INDOORS.</div>

 

NL: PITTSBURGH at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NL AT HOUSTON - MID INNING UPDATE
PLAY: H Quintero catching.
SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, NONE ON, 0 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: PITTSBURGH 4
HOUSTON 3 TOP, 9TH

DUE UP FOR PITTSBURGH: N McLouth (.251, 1-FOR-4)</div>

 

NL: PITTSBURGH at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NL AT HOUSTON - PITCHING CHANGE
HOU: MARK MCLEMORE (3-0, 3.90) STARTING THE 9TH
CURRENT SCORE: PITTSBURGH 4, HOUSTON 3

DUE UP FOR PITTSBURGH: N MCLOUTH (.251, 1-FOR-4)</div>

 

NL: PITTSBURGH at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NL AT HOUSTON - MID INNING UPDATE
PLAY: M McLemore relieved C Qualls.
SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, NONE ON, 0 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: PITTSBURGH 4
HOUSTON 3 TOP, 9TH

DUE UP FOR PITTSBURGH: N McLouth (.251, 1-FOR-4)</div>

 

NL: PITTSBURGH at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NL AT HOUSTON - PITCHING CHANGE
HOU: DAVE BORKOWSKI (4-3, 5.68) IN THE 9TH
SITUATION: NO RUNS IN, A LAROCHE ON FIRST, N MCLOUTH ON SECOND, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: PITTSBURGH 4, HOUSTON 3

DUE UP FOR PITTSBURGH: J BAUTISTA (.265, 2-FOR-4, HR, 2 RBI)</div>

 

NL: PITTSBURGH at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NL AT HOUSTON - MID INNING UPDATE
PLAY: D Borkowski relieved M McLemore.
SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, A LAROCHE ON FIRST, N MCLOUTH ON SECOND, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: PITTSBURGH 4
HOUSTON 3 TOP, 9TH

DUE UP FOR PITTSBURGH: J Bautista (.265, 2-FOR-4, 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 0 1 0 0 0 0 3 0 4 10 1
HOUSTON 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 3 8 2 (BOT 9)

CURRENT PITCHERS: PIT - SHAWN CHACON
HOU - DAVE BORKOWSKI

DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: L BERKMAN (.275, 1-FOR-2, 2 BB, HR, RBI)
L SCOTT (.258, 0-FOR-3, BB)
T WIGGINTON (.296, 2-FOR-4)</div>

 

NL: PITTSBURGH at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">PITTSBURGH (4) VS HOUSTON (3) - MID 9TH - IN PROGRESS

PITTSBURGH ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
N Morgan cf 5 0 0 0 0 1 3 .204
N McLouth lf 4 0 1 0 1 2 2 .251
F Sanchez 2b 5 1 2 0 0 0 2 .313
A LaRoche 1b 4 1 1 0 1 0 3 .274
J Bautista 3b 5 1 2 2 0 0 3 .265
S Pearce rf 5 1 1 0 0 1 3 .302
R Paulino c 4 0 1 1 0 2 1 .261
J Wilson ss 2 0 1 0 2 0 0 .290
I Snell p 2 0 0 0 0 2 3 .096
a-M Kata ph 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .274
F Osoria p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
D Marte p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
R Sanchez p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
b-J Phelps ph 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .385
S Chacon p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .273

Totals 38 4 10 3 4 9 22

a-singled to center for I Snell in the 7th; b-struck out looking for R Sanchez
in the 8th.

BATTING: 2B - F Sanchez (42, R Oswalt). 3B - J Bautista (2, R Oswalt). HR - J
Bautista (15, 8th inning off C Qualls 1 on, 1 Out). RBI - J Bautista 2 (61), R
Paulino (50). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - A LaRoche 1, N McLouth
1, I Snell 1, N Morgan 1, S Pearce 1. Team LOB - 11.

BASERUNNING: SB - N Morgan (1, 2nd base off R Oswalt/B Ausmus), S Pearce (2,
2nd base off C Qualls/B Ausmus), N McLouth (19, 2nd base off M McLemore/H
Quintero).

FIELDING: E - F Sanchez (6, catch).


HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Anderson cf 5 0 2 1 0 1 1 .250
C Biggio 2b 3 0 0 0 0 2 2 .251
C Burke 2b 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .225
H Pence rf 4 0 1 0 1 0 3 .327
L Berkman 1b 2 1 1 1 2 0 1 .275
L Scott lf 3 0 0 0 1 2 2 .258
T Wigginton 3b 4 1 2 0 0 1 3 .296
C Ransom ss 2 1 0 0 1 0 1 .091
B Ausmus c 3 0 1 0 0 2 2 .235
a-M Lamb ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .287
H Quintero c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .204
R Oswalt p 3 0 0 1 0 1 2 .129
C Qualls p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
b-C Lee ph 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .296
E Bruntlett pr 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .240
M McLemore p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
D Borkowski p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000

Totals 32 3 8 3 5 10 20

a-flied out to left for B Ausmus in the 8th; b-doubled to left for C Qualls in
the 8th.

BATTING: 2B - T Wigginton 2 (8, I Snell 2); C Lee (40, S Chacon). HR - L
Berkman (30, 7th inning off D Marte 0 on, 1 Out). S - C Biggio. RBI - R Oswalt
(3), L Berkman (91), J Anderson (1). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out -
T Wigginton 2, R Oswalt 1, C Biggio 1, L Scott 1, H Pence 1. Team LOB - 12.

FIELDING: E - H Pence (5, bobble); L Berkman (13, ground ball).


----------------------------------------------------
PITTSBURGH - 001 000 030 -- 4
HOUSTON - 000 001 11 -- 3
----------------------------------------------------

PITTSBURGH ip h r er bb so hr era
I Snell 6 5 1 1 5 8 0 3.92
F Osoria 1/3 0 0 0 0 0 0 4.29
D Marte 1/3 1 1 1 0 0 1 2.23
R Sanchez 1/3 0 0 0 0 1 0 1.80
S Chacon 1 2 1 1 0 1 0 3.98

HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
R Oswalt 7 6 1 0 1 6 0 3.29
C Qualls 1 4 3 3 1 2 1 3.30
M McLemore 1/3 0 0 0 2 0 0 3.86
D Borkowski 2/3 0 0 0 0 1 0 5.62

WP - I Snell 2. IBB - J Wilson (by R Oswalt). HBP - C Ransom (by S Chacon).
Pitches-strikes: I Snell 116-69; F Osoria 2-2; D Marte 6-4; R Sanchez 7-4; S
Chacon 13-8; R Oswalt 110-80; C Qualls 41-20; M McLemore 12-4; D Borkowski
12-8. Ground balls-fly balls: I Snell 5-6; F Osoria 1-0; D Marte 0-1; R Sanchez
0-0; S Chacon 0-2; R Oswalt 11-4; C Qualls 1-0; M McLemore 0-1; D Borkowski
0-1. Batters faced: I Snell 29; F Osoria 1; D Marte 2; R Sanchez 1; S Chacon 6;
R Oswalt 29; C Qualls 8; M McLemore 3; D Borkowski 2.

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

Weather: INDOORS.</div>

 

NL: PITTSBURGH at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NL AT HOUSTON - PITCHING CHANGE
PIT: MATT CAPPS (4-6, 2.07) STARTING THE 9TH
CURRENT SCORE: PITTSBURGH 4, HOUSTON 3

DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: L BERKMAN (.275, 1-FOR-2, HR, RBI)</div>

 

NL: PITTSBURGH at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">NL AT HOUSTON - MID INNING UPDATE
PLAY: M Capps relieved S Chacon.
SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, NONE ON, 0 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: PITTSBURGH 4
HOUSTON 3 BOTTOM, 9TH

DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: L Berkman (.275, 1-FOR-2, HR, RBI)</div>

 

NL: PITTSBURGH at HOUSTON

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

BATTERIES: PIT - IAN SNELL, FRANQUELIS OSORIA (7TH), DAMASO MARTE (7TH), ROMULO
SANCHEZ (7TH), SHAWN CHACON (8TH), MATT CAPPS (9TH) AND RONNY
PAULINO

HOU - ROY OSWALT, CHAD QUALLS (8TH), MARK MCLEMORE
(9TH), DAVE BORKOWSKI (9TH) AND BRAD AUSMUS, HUMBERTO QUINTERO
(9TH)

HOME RUNS: PIT - JOSE BAUTISTA (15) OFF CHAD QUALLS IN THE 8TH, 1 ON

HOU - LANCE BERKMAN (30) OFF DAMASO MARTE IN THE 7TH, 0 ON</div>

 

NL: PITTSBURGH at HOUSTON

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

BATTERIES: PIT - IAN SNELL, FRANQUELIS OSORIA (7TH), DAMASO MARTE (7TH), ROMULO
SANCHEZ (7TH), SHAWN CHACON (8TH), MATT CAPPS (9TH) AND RONNY
PAULINO

HOU - ROY OSWALT, CHAD QUALLS (8TH), MARK MCLEMORE
(9TH), DAVE BORKOWSKI (9TH) AND BRAD AUSMUS, HUMBERTO QUINTERO
(9TH)


WP - ROMULO SANCHEZ (1-0)
LP - CHAD QUALLS (6-5)
SAVE - MATT CAPPS (17)

HOME RUNS: PIT - JOSE BAUTISTA (15) OFF CHAD QUALLS IN THE 8TH, 1 ON

HOU - LANCE BERKMAN (30) OFF DAMASO MARTE IN THE 7TH, 0 ON


TIME: 3:12 ATT: 35,352

PROBABLES: PIT - MATT MORRIS (9-9, 4.59)
HOU - WANDY RODRIGUEZ (8-13, 4.65)</div>

 

NL: PITTSBURGH at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">PITTSBURGH (4) VS HOUSTON (3) - FINAL

PITTSBURGH ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
N Morgan cf 5 0 0 0 0 1 3 .204
N McLouth lf 4 0 1 0 1 2 2 .251
F Sanchez 2b 5 1 2 0 0 0 2 .313
A LaRoche 1b 4 1 1 0 1 0 3 .274
J Bautista 3b 5 1 2 2 0 0 3 .265
S Pearce rf 5 1 1 0 0 1 3 .302
R Paulino c 4 0 1 1 0 2 1 .261
J Wilson ss 2 0 1 0 2 0 0 .290
I Snell p 2 0 0 0 0 2 3 .096
a-M Kata ph 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .274
F Osoria p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
D Marte p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
R Sanchez p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
b-J Phelps ph 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .385
S Chacon p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .273
M Capps p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1.000

Totals 38 4 10 3 4 9 22

a-singled to center for I Snell in the 7th; b-struck out looking for R Sanchez
in the 8th.

BATTING: 2B - F Sanchez (42, R Oswalt). 3B - J Bautista (2, R Oswalt). HR - J
Bautista (15, 8th inning off C Qualls 1 on, 1 Out). RBI - J Bautista 2 (61), R
Paulino (50). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - A LaRoche 1, N McLouth
1, I Snell 1, N Morgan 1, S Pearce 1. Team LOB - 11.

BASERUNNING: SB - N Morgan (1, 2nd base off R Oswalt/B Ausmus), S Pearce (2,
2nd base off C Qualls/B Ausmus), N McLouth (19, 2nd base off M McLemore/H
Quintero).

FIELDING: E - F Sanchez (6, catch). DP: 1 (J Bautista-F Sanchez-A LaRoche).



HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Anderson cf 5 0 2 1 0 1 1 .250
C Biggio 2b 3 0 0 0 0 2 2 .251
C Burke 2b 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .225
H Pence rf 4 0 1 0 1 0 3 .327
L Berkman 1b 3 1 2 1 2 0 1 .277
L Scott lf 4 0 0 0 1 3 3 .257
T Wigginton 3b 5 1 2 0 0 1 4 .293
C Ransom ss 2 1 0 0 1 0 1 .091
B Ausmus c 3 0 1 0 0 2 2 .235
a-M Lamb ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .287
H Quintero c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .204
R Oswalt p 3 0 0 1 0 1 2 .129
C Qualls p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
b-C Lee ph 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .296
E Bruntlett pr 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .240
M McLemore p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
D Borkowski p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000

Totals 35 3 9 3 5 11 22

a-flied out to left for B Ausmus in the 8th; b-doubled to left for C Qualls in
the 8th.

BATTING: 2B - T Wigginton 2 (8, I Snell 2); C Lee (40, S Chacon). HR - L
Berkman (30, 7th inning off D Marte 0 on, 1 Out). S - C Biggio. RBI - R Oswalt
(3), L Berkman (91), J Anderson (1). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out -
T Wigginton 2, R Oswalt 1, C Biggio 1, L Scott 1, H Pence 1. GIDP - T
Wigginton. Team LOB - 12.

FIELDING: E - H Pence (5, bobble); L Berkman (13, ground ball).


----------------------------------------------------
PITTSBURGH - 001 000 030 -- 4
HOUSTON - 000 001 110 -- 3
----------------------------------------------------

PITTSBURGH ip h r er bb so hr era
I Snell 6 5 1 1 5 8 0 3.92
F Osoria 1/3 0 0 0 0 0 0 4.29
D Marte 1/3 1 1 1 0 0 1 2.23
R Sanchez (W, 1-0) 1/3 0 0 0 0 1 0 1.80
S Chacon (H, 11) 1 2 1 1 0 1 0 3.98
M Capps (S, 17) 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 2.04

HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
R Oswalt 7 6 1 0 1 6 0 3.29
C Qualls (L, 6-5; B, 6) 1 4 3 3 1 2 1 3.30
M McLemore 1/3 0 0 0 2 0 0 3.86
D Borkowski 2/3 0 0 0 0 1 0 5.62

WP - I Snell 2. IBB - J Wilson (by R Oswalt). HBP - C Ransom (by S Chacon).
Pitches-strikes: I Snell 116-69; F Osoria 2-2; D Marte 6-4; R Sanchez 7-4; S
Chacon 13-8; M Capps 9-6; R Oswalt 110-80; C Qualls 41-20; M McLemore 12-4; D
Borkowski 12-8. Ground balls-fly balls: I Snell 5-6; F Osoria 1-0; D Marte 0-1;
R Sanchez 0-0; S Chacon 0-2; M Capps 2-0; R Oswalt 11-4; C Qualls 1-0; M
McLemore 0-1; D Borkowski 0-1. Batters faced: I Snell 29; F Osoria 1; D Marte
2; R Sanchez 1; S Chacon 6; M Capps 3; R Oswalt 29; C Qualls 8; M McLemore 3; D
Borkowski 2.

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

T--3:12. Att--35,352.
Weather: INDOORS</div>

 

NL: PITTSBURGH at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">** CONFIRMED **
NL
PITTSBURGH 4
HOUSTON 3 FINAL</div>

 

Batista's blast helps Pirates extend Astros' misery

<h3>PITTSBURGH 4, HOUSTON 3</h3>HOUSTON (Ticker) -- Jose Batista ruined a strong outing fromRoy Oswalt.


Batista's two-run homer highlighted a three-run, eighth-inningrally as the Pittsburgh Pirates posted a 4-3 comeback victoryover the Houston Astros on Friday in the opener of a three-gameseries.


After Freddy Sanchez led off the frame with a base hit, Batistacrushed a 3-1 offering from Chad Qualls (6-5) into the leftfield seats to give the Pirates a 3-2 edge. It was Batista's15th home run this season.


Ronny Paulino added an RBI single later in the inning to extendPittsburgh's advantage to 4-2.


Oswalt pitched seven strong innings, yielding just one and sixhits with a walk and six strikeouts.


After leaving with a 2-1 lead, the 30-year-old righthander waslooking to pick up his 15th win for his fourth consecutiveseason, but Qualls gave up three runs in the decisive eighth.

Romulo Sanchez (1-0) registered the win after recording thefinal out of the seventh by striking out Ty Wigginton. It wasthe rookie righthander's first career win.


Shawn Chacon gave up an RBI single by Josh Anderson in theeighth, but Matt Capps slammed the door in the ninth to notchhis 17th save.


Houston (63-83), which owns the National League's worst record,has lost three straight and eight of its last nine.

Lance Berkman blasted a solo home run - his 30th of the season -in the seventh inning to give the Astros a 2-1 lead.

Pittsburgh, which has won four of its last five contests,started the scoring in the third, when Adam LaRoche delivered anRBI single to right.


Pirates starter Ian Snell held the Astros scoreless for fiveinnings but surrendered a run in the sixth as Wigginton scoredon second baseman Sanchez's fielding error, tying the game at1-1.


Snell gave up one run, five hits and five walks with eightstrikeouts in six innings.

 

NL: PITTSBURGH at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
PITTSBURGH (4) AT HOUSTON (3) - HOW THEY SCORED
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

PITTSBURGH 3RD: N Morgan grounded out to second. N McLouth struck out
swinging. F Sanchez doubled to left. A LaRoche singled to right, F Sanchez
to third, F Sanchez scored on error by right fielder H Pence. J Bautista
grounded into fielder's choice to shortstop, A LaRoche out at second. (1 Run,
2 Hits, 1 Error) PITTSBURGH 1, HOUSTON 0.

HOUSTON 6TH: T Wigginton doubled to right. C Ransom grounded out to third.
B Ausmus singled to left, T Wigginton to third. R Oswalt grounded into
fielder's choice to third, T Wigginton scored, B Ausmus safe at second on error
by second baseman F Sanchez. J Anderson grounded into fielder's choice to
second, R Oswalt out at second, B Ausmus to third. C Biggio flied out to
center. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 1 Error) PITTSBURGH 1, HOUSTON 1.

HOUSTON 7TH: F Osoria relieved I Snell. H Pence grounded out to pitcher.
D Marte relieved F Osoria. L Berkman homered to left. L Scott flied out to left.
R Sanchez relieved D Marte. T Wigginton struck out swinging. (1 Run, 1 Hit,
0 Errors) PITTSBURGH 1, HOUSTON 2.

PITTSBURGH 8TH: C Burke at second base. C Qualls relieved R Oswalt. F Sanchez
singled to center. A LaRoche grounded into fielder's choice to first, F Sanchez
out at second. J Bautista homered to left, A LaRoche scored. S Pearce singled
to center. S Pearce stole second. R Paulino singled to center, S Pearce scored.
J Wilson walked, R Paulino to second. J Phelps hit for R Sanchez. J Phelps
struck out looking. N Morgan struck out swinging. (3 Runs, 4 Hits, 0 Errors)
PITTSBURGH 4, HOUSTON 2.

HOUSTON 8TH: S Chacon relieved R Sanchez. C Ransom hit by pitch. M Lamb hit
for B Ausmus. M Lamb flied out to left. C Lee hit for C Qualls. C Lee doubled
to left, C Ransom to third. E Bruntlett ran for C Lee. J Anderson singled to left,
C Ransom scored, E Bruntlett to third. C Burke struck out swinging. H Pence
flied out to right. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) PITTSBURGH 4, HOUSTON 3.</div>

 

NL: PITTSBURGH at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
PITTSBURGH (4) AT HOUSTON (3) - EVENT LOG
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Pittsburgh Starting Lineups -- N Morgan CF, N McLouth LF, F Sanchez 2B,
A LaRoche 1B, J Bautista 3B, S Pearce RF, R Paulino C, J Wilson SS, I Snell RHP.

Houston Starting Lineups -- J Anderson CF, C Biggio 2B, H Pence RF, L Berkman 1B,
L Scott LF, T Wigginton 3B, C Ransom SS, B Ausmus C, R Oswalt RHP.

Umpires -- Jerry Meals (HP), Gary Darling (1B), Brian Knight (2B),
Larry Poncino (3B).

Gametime Weather: INDOORS.


PITTSBURGH 1ST: N Morgan grounded out to second. N McLouth singled to
left. F Sanchez grounded out to pitcher, N McLouth to second. A LaRoche
grounded out to second. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) PITTSBURGH 0, HOUSTON 0.

HOUSTON 1ST: J Anderson struck out looking. C Biggio struck out swinging.
H Pence walked. L Berkman popped out to shortstop. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors)
PITTSBURGH 0, HOUSTON 0.

PITTSBURGH 2ND: J Bautista tripled to deep center. S Pearce grounded out
to pitcher. R Paulino struck out swinging. J Wilson intentionally walked.
I Snell struck out looking. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) PITTSBURGH 0, HOUSTON 0.

HOUSTON 2ND: L Scott struck out looking. T Wigginton doubled to left.
T Wigginton to third on wild pitch by I Snell. C Ransom walked. B Ausmus struck
out looking. R Oswalt struck out looking. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors)
PITTSBURGH 0, HOUSTON 0.

PITTSBURGH 3RD: N Morgan grounded out to second. N McLouth struck out
swinging. F Sanchez doubled to left. A LaRoche singled to right, F Sanchez
to third, F Sanchez scored on error by right fielder H Pence. J Bautista
grounded into fielder's choice to shortstop, A LaRoche out at second. (1 Run,
2 Hits, 1 Error) PITTSBURGH 1, HOUSTON 0.

HOUSTON 3RD: J Anderson reached on infield single to shortstop. C Biggio
sacrificed to first, J Anderson to second. H Pence flied out to right.
L Berkman walked. J Anderson to third on wild pitch by I Snell. L Scott walked,
L Berkman to second. T Wigginton flied out to center. (0 Runs, 1 Hit,
0 Errors) PITTSBURGH 1, HOUSTON 0.

PITTSBURGH 4TH: S Pearce grounded out to third. R Paulino struck out
swinging. J Wilson singled to center. I Snell struck out looking. (0 Runs,
1 Hit, 0 Errors) PITTSBURGH 1, HOUSTON 0.

HOUSTON 4TH: C Ransom lined out to center. B Ausmus struck out swinging.
R Oswalt flied out to center. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) PITTSBURGH 1, HOUSTON 0.

PITTSBURGH 5TH: N Morgan safe at first on error by first baseman L Berkman.
N McLouth flied out to left. F Sanchez popped out to shortstop. A LaRoche
flied out to center. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 1 Error) PITTSBURGH 1, HOUSTON 0.

HOUSTON 5TH: J Anderson grounded out to shortstop. C Biggio struck out
swinging. H Pence reached on infield single to shortstop. L Berkman walked,
H Pence to second. L Scott struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors)
PITTSBURGH 1, HOUSTON 0.

PITTSBURGH 6TH: J Bautista grounded out to third. S Pearce flied out to
left. R Paulino grounded out to shortstop. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors)
PITTSBURGH 1, HOUSTON 0.

HOUSTON 6TH: T Wigginton doubled to right. C Ransom grounded out to third.
B Ausmus singled to left, T Wigginton to third. R Oswalt grounded into
fielder's choice to third, T Wigginton scored, B Ausmus safe at second on error
by second baseman F Sanchez. J Anderson grounded into fielder's choice to
second, R Oswalt out at second, B Ausmus to third. C Biggio flied out to
center. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 1 Error) PITTSBURGH 1, HOUSTON 1.

PITTSBURGH 7TH: J Wilson grounded out to shortstop. M Kata hit for I Snell.
M Kata singled to center. N Morgan grounded into fielder's choice to second,
M Kata out at second. N Morgan stole second. N McLouth struck out swinging.
(0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) PITTSBURGH 1, HOUSTON 1.

HOUSTON 7TH: F Osoria relieved I Snell. H Pence grounded out to pitcher.
D Marte relieved F Osoria. L Berkman homered to left. L Scott flied out to left.
R Sanchez relieved D Marte. T Wigginton struck out swinging. (1 Run, 1 Hit,
0 Errors) PITTSBURGH 1, HOUSTON 2.

PITTSBURGH 8TH: C Burke at second base. C Qualls relieved R Oswalt. F Sanchez
singled to center. A LaRoche grounded into fielder's choice to first, F Sanchez
out at second. J Bautista homered to left, A LaRoche scored. S Pearce singled
to center. S Pearce stole second. R Paulino singled to center, S Pearce scored.
J Wilson walked, R Paulino to second. J Phelps hit for R Sanchez. J Phelps
struck out looking. N Morgan struck out swinging. (3 Runs, 4 Hits, 0 Errors)
PITTSBURGH 4, HOUSTON 2.

HOUSTON 8TH: S Chacon relieved R Sanchez. C Ransom hit by pitch. M Lamb hit
for B Ausmus. M Lamb flied out to left. C Lee hit for C Qualls. C Lee doubled
to left, C Ransom to third. E Bruntlett ran for C Lee. J Anderson singled to left,
C Ransom scored, E Bruntlett to third. C Burke struck out swinging. H Pence
flied out to right. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) PITTSBURGH 4, HOUSTON 3.

PITTSBURGH 9TH: H Quintero catching. M McLemore relieved C Qualls.
N McLouth walked. F Sanchez fouled out to right. N McLouth stole second.
A LaRoche walked. D Borkowski relieved M McLemore. J Bautista flied out to
right. S Pearce struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) PITTSBURGH 4,
HOUSTON 3.

HOUSTON 9TH: M Capps relieved S Chacon. L Berkman singled to center.
L Scott struck out swinging. T Wigginton grounded into double play, third to
second to first, L Berkman out at second.(0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) PITTSBURGH 4,
HOUSTON 3.</div>

 

Bautista's blast helps Pirates extend Astros' misery

<h3>PITTSBURGH 4, HOUSTON 3</h3>HOUSTON (Ticker) -- Jose Bautista ruined a strong outing fromRoy Oswalt.


Bautista's two-run homer highlighted a three-run, eighth-inningrally as the Pittsburgh Pirates posted a 4-3 comeback victoryover the Houston Astros on Friday in the opener of a three-gameseries.


After Freddy Sanchez led off the frame with a base hit, Bautistacrushed a 3-1 offering from Chad Qualls (6-5) into the leftfield seats to give the Pirates a 3-2 edge. It was Bautista's15th home run this season.


Ronny Paulino added an RBI single later in the inning to extendPittsburgh's advantage to 4-2.


Oswalt pitched seven strong innings, yielding just one and sixhits with a walk and six strikeouts.


After leaving with a 2-1 lead, the 30-year-old righthander waslooking to pick up his 15th win for his fourth consecutiveseason, but Qualls gave up three runs in the decisive eighth.

Romulo Sanchez (1-0) registered the win after recording thefinal out of the seventh by striking out Ty Wigginton. It wasthe rookie righthander's first career win.


Shawn Chacon gave up an RBI single by Josh Anderson in theeighth, but Matt Capps slammed the door in the ninth to notchhis 17th save.


Houston (63-83), which owns the National League's worst record,has lost three straight and eight of its last nine.

Lance Berkman blasted a solo home run - his 30th of the season -in the seventh inning to give the Astros a 2-1 lead.

Pittsburgh, which has won four of its last five contests,started the scoring in the third, when Adam LaRoche delivered anRBI single to right.


Pirates starter Ian Snell held the Astros scoreless for fiveinnings but surrendered a run in the sixth as Wigginton scoredon second baseman Sanchez's fielding error, tying the game at1-1.


Snell gave up one run, five hits and five walks with eightstrikeouts in six innings.

 

Bautista's blast helps Pirates extend Astros' misery

<h3>PITTSBURGH 4, HOUSTON 3</h3>HOUSTON (Ticker) -- Jose Bautista ruined a strong outing fromRoy Oswalt.


Bautista's two-run homer highlighted a three-run, eighth-inningrally as the Pittsburgh Pirates posted a 4-3 comeback victoryover the Houston Astros on Friday in the opener of a three-gameseries.


After Freddy Sanchez led off the frame with a base hit, Bautistacrushed a 3-1 offering from Chad Qualls (6-5) into the leftfield seats to give the Pirates a 3-2 edge. It was Bautista's15th home run this season.


"It was a fastball in and I feel bad," Qualls said. "He soldout on the fastball after I got behind in the count, and hereally turned on it."


Ronny Paulino added an RBI single later in the inning to extendPittsburgh's advantage to 4-2.


"You need some baserunners and you need some big at-bats in agame like this one," Pirates manager Jim Tracy. "We gotrun-producing at-bats from (Adam) LaRoche, Paulino and a hugeat-bat from Jose Bautista."


Oswalt pitched seven strong innings, yielding just one and sixhits with a walk and six strikeouts.


After leaving with a 2-1 lead, the 30-year-old righthander waslooking to pick up his 15th win for his fourth consecutiveseason, but Qualls gave up three runs in the decisive eighth.

"Different night, same story," Astros interim manager CecilCooper. "This is getting tough to take. Roy pitched reallywell and I thought (Ty) Wigginton really swung the bat well forus tonight."


Romulo Sanchez (1-0) registered the win after recording thefinal out of the seventh by striking out Wigginton. It was therookie righthander's first career win.


Shawn Chacon gave up an RBI single by Josh Anderson in theeighth, but Matt Capps slammed the door in the ninth to notchhis 17th save.


Houston (63-83), which owns the National League's worst record,has lost three straight and eight of its last nine.

Lance Berkman blasted a solo home run - his 30th of the season -in the seventh inning to give the Astros a 2-1 lead.

Pittsburgh, which has won four of its last five contests,started the scoring in the third, when LaRoche delivered an RBIsingle to right.


Pirates starter Ian Snell held the Astros scoreless for fiveinnings but surrendered a run in the sixth as Wigginton scoredon second baseman Sanchez's fielding error, tying the game at1-1.


Snell gave up one run, five hits and five walks with eightstrikeouts in six innings.


"It means a lot to me and it means a lot to the team to go outstrong," Snell said. "I just want to finish up strong and knowthey can count on me for next year."

 

NL: PITTSBURGH at HOUSTON

<div class="pre">PITTSBURGH (4) VS HOUSTON (3) - FINAL

PITTSBURGH ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
N Morgan cf 5 0 1 0 0 1 3 .224
N McLouth lf 4 0 1 0 1 2 2 .251
F Sanchez 2b 5 1 2 0 0 0 2 .313
A LaRoche 1b 4 1 1 0 1 0 3 .274
J Bautista 3b 5 1 2 2 0 0 3 .265
S Pearce rf 5 1 1 0 0 1 3 .302
R Paulino c 4 0 1 1 0 2 1 .261
J Wilson ss 2 0 1 0 2 0 0 .290
I Snell p 2 0 0 0 0 2 3 .096
a-M Kata ph 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .274
F Osoria p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
D Marte p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
R Sanchez p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
b-J Phelps ph 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .385
S Chacon p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .273
M Capps p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1.000

Totals 38 4 11 3 4 9 22

a-singled to center for I Snell in the 7th; b-struck out looking for R Sanchez
in the 8th.

BATTING: 2B - F Sanchez (42, R Oswalt). 3B - J Bautista (2, R Oswalt). HR - J
Bautista (15, 8th inning off C Qualls 1 on, 1 Out). RBI - J Bautista 2 (61), R
Paulino (50). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - A LaRoche 1, N McLouth
1, I Snell 1, N Morgan 1, S Pearce 1. Team LOB - 11.

BASERUNNING: SB - N Morgan (1, 2nd base off R Oswalt/B Ausmus), S Pearce (2,
2nd base off C Qualls/B Ausmus), N McLouth (19, 2nd base off M McLemore/H
Quintero).

FIELDING: DP: 1 (J Bautista-F Sanchez-A LaRoche).


HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Anderson cf 5 0 2 1 0 1 1 .250
C Biggio 2b 3 0 0 0 0 2 2 .251
C Burke 2b 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .225
H Pence rf 4 0 1 0 1 0 3 .327
L Berkman 1b 3 1 2 1 2 0 1 .277
L Scott lf 4 0 0 0 1 3 3 .257
T Wigginton 3b 5 1 2 0 0 1 4 .293
C Ransom ss 2 1 0 0 1 0 1 .091
B Ausmus c 3 0 1 0 0 2 2 .235
a-M Lamb ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .287
R Oswalt p 3 0 0 1 0 1 2 .129
C Qualls p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
b-C Lee ph 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .296
E Bruntlett pr 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .240
H Quintero c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .204
M McLemore p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
D Borkowski p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000

Totals 35 3 9 3 5 11 22

a-flied out to left for B Ausmus in the 8th; b-doubled to left for C Qualls in
the 8th.

BATTING: 2B - T Wigginton 2 (8, I Snell 2); C Lee (40, S Chacon). HR - L
Berkman (30, 7th inning off D Marte 0 on, 1 Out). S - C Biggio. RBI - R Oswalt
(3), L Berkman (91), J Anderson (1). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out -
T Wigginton 2, R Oswalt 1, C Biggio 1, L Scott 1, H Pence 1. GIDP - T
Wigginton. Team LOB - 12.

FIELDING: E - H Pence (5, bobble).


----------------------------------------------------
PITTSBURGH - 001 000 030 -- 4
HOUSTON - 000 001 110 -- 3
----------------------------------------------------

PITTSBURGH ip h r er bb so hr era
I Snell 6 5 1 1 5 8 0 3.92
F Osoria 1/3 0 0 0 0 0 0 4.29
D Marte 1/3 1 1 1 0 0 1 2.23
R Sanchez (W, 1-0) 1/3 0 0 0 0 1 0 1.80
S Chacon (H, 11) 1 2 1 1 0 1 0 3.98
M Capps (S, 17) 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 2.04

HOUSTON ip h r er bb so hr era
R Oswalt 7 7 1 0 1 6 0 3.29
C Qualls (L, 6-5; B, 6) 1 4 3 3 1 2 1 3.30
M McLemore 1/3 0 0 0 2 0 0 3.86
D Borkowski 2/3 0 0 0 0 1 0 5.62

WP - I Snell 2. IBB - J Wilson (by R Oswalt). HBP - C Ransom (by S Chacon).
Pitches-strikes: I Snell 116-69; F Osoria 2-2; D Marte 6-4; R Sanchez 7-4; S
Chacon 13-8; M Capps 8-6; R Oswalt 110-80; C Qualls 41-20; M McLemore 12-4; D
Borkowski 12-8. Ground balls-fly balls: I Snell 4-6; F Osoria 1-0; D Marte 0-1;
R Sanchez 0-0; S Chacon 0-2; M Capps 2-0; R Oswalt 11-4; C Qualls 1-0; M
McLemore 0-1; D Borkowski 0-1. Batters faced: I Snell 29; F Osoria 1; D Marte
2; R Sanchez 1; S Chacon 6; M Capps 3; R Oswalt 29; C Qualls 8; M McLemore 3; D
Borkowski 2.

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

T--3:12. Att--35,352.
Weather: INDOORS</div>