Down 6-1 in the 6th inning, the streaking Astros rallied for 4 runs, tied it in the 9th, and won in the 15th against the scrappy Pirates in game two of the three game set Wednesday night in Pittsburgh.
Rookie Jason Hirsh started and allowed runs in each of his three innings. In the 4th, an error and a walk sent him to the dugout to watch. Russ Springer entered and threw three pitches, coaxing a DP grounder and a fly out for the first of many excellent relief appearances by the hard working Astros bullpen.
Dave Borkowski started the 5th, but got into trouble early after a leadoff double, his own error, a groundout and an intentional walk loaded the bases. A two-run single to right scored two and another run scored when Aubrey Huff’s throw from RF hit the seam near second base and caroomed into left field. 6-1 Pirates.
The comeback started in the 6th. Willy Taveras walked and raced home after a liner into the RF corner by Mike Lamb, a stand up double. Lance Berkman powered the ball over the CF fence for his 44th home run of the season. After a groundout, Huff was plunked by Pirates starter Chacon, who left the game right after. Craig Biggio hit a broken bat single to left and both runners advanced on a passed ball disguised as a wild pitch. Adam Everett hit a fly to left that was deep enough to get Huff home, making the score 6-5.
Borkowski started the 6th, but loaded the bases again and with one out was replaced by Chad Qualls, who’s task was facing the Pirates main power threat, Jason Bay. He got the ground ball he was looking for, 6-4-3 to end the threat.
In the 7th, Morgan Ensberg pinch hit for Qualls. He walked. After a sacrifice, Lamb slammed a liner to center, where ‘roots CF Duffy made a nice catch and saved the tying run from scoring.
Brad Lidge pitched the next two scoreless innings, striking out three, as his slider was fooling the young Buccs.
In the 9th, Jason Lane pinch hit and went down on strikes. Taveras hit a dribbler down to third for an infield hit, and advanced to second on another infield dribbler by Lamb, who was thrown out at first. Berkman was walked to set the stage. Pirates reliever Soloman Torres, 10-10 in save chances in September, went right after the red-hot Luke Scott , who fought off tough pitches and stroked a single to center just past the glove of Torres to score the tying run.
Dan Wheeler pitched three efficient, scoreless innings as the bats for both sides went quiet. Fernando Nieve pitched a scoreless inning, and Chris Sampson took over, holding the Pirates scoreless for two innings.
This brings us to the 15th. Eric Bruntlett led off with a walk and was forced at second when Biggio bunted hard right at the firstbaseman. Orlando Palmeiro lined a single to right center, sending Biggio to third. Brad Ausmus lifted the ball to center for the much needed sac fly, scoring Biggio with the go-ahead run.
Sampson got two outs in the bottom of the 15th, and with a lefty due up was replaced by Trever Miller, who earned his first save by striking out Duffy.
Day game about 12 hrs after last night’s finish, 11:30 CST, sleepy Roy Oswalt vs. lefty Tom Gorzelanny.