Bautista powers Pirates past Astros

Sep 15, 2007, 3:42 GMT

Houston, TX - Jose Bautista hit a go-ahead, two-run homer in the eighth inning, and the Pittsburgh Pirates held off the Houston Astros, 4-3, in the start of a three-game series at Minute Maid Park.

Pittsburgh entered the night two games ahead of last-place Houston in the National League Central standings.

Bautista also tripled, and Freddy Sanchez had two hits and scored a run for the Pirates, who have won four of their last five games. Romulo Sanchez (1-0) earned the win by recording the final out in the seventh, after starter Ian Snell allowed one run and five hits, while walking five and fanning eight over six frames.

Lance Berkman homered and Josh Anderson had two hits and knocked in a run for Houston, which has lost 10 of its last 12 games. Chad Qualls (6-5) took the loss, allowing three runs and four hits in the eighth to waste a solid outing by Roy Oswalt, who yielded just one unearned run and six hits over seven innings in the start.

The Pirates opened the scoring in the third when Sanchez doubled with two outs and scored on a single by Adam LaRoche.

Houston loaded the bases in the home half, but was kept off the board when Pittsburgh center fielder Nyjer Morgan made a tremendous, over-the-shoulder catch of Ty Wigginton's fly ball to the fence.

The Astros made it 1-1 in the sixth, as Wigginton opened the inning with a line-drive double to right. A one-out single by Brad Ausmus moved him to third, and Oswalt reached on a fielder's choice, as Sanchez had the ball glance off his glove at second base, plating Wigginton with the tying run.

Berkman's solo homer put Houston back on top in the seventh, but the Pirates scored three in the eighth as Sanchez singled and Bautista clubbed a one-out, two-run homer off the left-field foul pole. Steven Pearce singled, stole second and trotted home on Ronny Paulino's base hit to left-center.

A pinch-hit double by Carlos Lee, coupled with an RBI single from Anderson, pulled Houston within a run in the eighth.

Matt Capps came in and shut the door in the ninth, however, earning his 17th save of the season.

Game Notes

Berkman's homer marks the fifth time in his career he's had at least a 30- home run season. It is the second most in franchise history behind Jeff Bagwell, who has nine 30-homer seasons...The Pirates have won 10 of their 13 meetings with the Astros this season after dropping 13 of 16 against Houston in 2006...The Astros bullpen had pitched 16 consecutive scoreless innings coming into the game...Houston's Hunter Pence has hit safely in 13 of his last 16 games and 20 of 24 overall.

© 2007 The Sports Network

Game Notes

.