HOUSTON 8, Pittsburgh 2
July 6, 2011
PNC Park
PITTSBURGH (SnS) – In a nice turn after a week of abject ugliness, the Houston Astros posted a tidy little win over the Pittsburgh Pirates here Wednesday night, 8-2, thus salvaging the final game of a three-game set in the Iron City. The Astros capitalized on Pittsburgh miscues, got good pitching both from starter Bud Norris and the bullpen, and saw an offensive mini-resurgence to the tune of fourteen hits and eight runs. :sniff: The whole thing served to remind fans of happier – or at least less sad – days in Houston.
All-Star and Face-of-the-Franchise Hunter Pence led the Astros attack with three hits and two RBIs. Jeff Keppinger, Clint Barmes, and Carlos Lee contributed two hits apiece. Every regular had at least one hit. Even woebegone pinch-hitter Jason Micheals got in on the act, reaching on a pop double in the ninth.
Bud Norris pitched another fine game, going seven innings and giving up seven hits and two runs. Most impressive was that Norris pulled it off on an ‘off’ night, when he didn’t have his plus stuff. He struck out but three in his seven frames. Wilton Lopez pitched a lights-out eighth, striking out the side impressively. Rookie David Carpenter finished up with a three-up, three-down ninth.
The win stopped the Astros most recent losing streak at a modest five games, and cleared the decks for them to start a new one, beginning tomorrow night in Miami against the Marlins.
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