Pirates swept on road ... again
HOUSTON — J.A. Happ gave the Houston Astros a chance, and eventually they took advantage of it.
Happ threw six solid innings and pinch-hitter Pedro Feliz hit a two-run double in Houston's four-run sixth inning, leading the Astros to an 8-2 victory over the woeful Pittsburgh Pirates on Sunday.
"It's fun to watch these guys play late in the game," Happ said. "That's the way baseball is sometimes. Guys see you are battling and the second, third, and fourth time through they stuck with it and got on the board today."
Hunter Pence and Chris Johnson had three hits apiece for Houston, which trailed 2-1 after five innings. Johnson hit a solo homer in the eighth and Jeff Keppinger finished with two RBIs.
Happ (3-1) allowed two runs and three hits to improve to 2-1 in four starts since he was acquired from Philadelphia in the Roy Oswalt trade.
Pence started the winning rally with a leadoff double against Jeff Karstens (2-9). Pence moved to third on Carlos Lee's fly ball and scored on Keppinger's tying sacrifice fly.
After Brett Wallace was hit by a pitch, Johnson reached on an infield hit and Jason Castro hit a tiebreaking RBI single before Feliz's double to center off Sean Gallagher made it 5-2.
"When your pitchers go out and battle like that it gives you a chance to win," Pence said. "All up and down the lineup, everyone hit and we made some amazing plays."
Pittsburgh has lost 10 consecutive road games and seven in a row overall. The Pirates dropped all nine of their games at Minute Maid Park this season.
"When you get three hits in a game, you're not doing well," manager John Russell said. "We have to swing the bats well. We are showing signs that we can. We are swinging them a little better, but when you are only getting two, three, four, five runs a game, it's tough to win."
Karstens was charged with five runs and seven hits in 5 2-3 innings. He has dropped his last seven decisions.
Plate umpire Alan Porter had to leave in the sixth inning after he was struck on the head on Lee's swing. Porter walked off the field and required five stitches.
Second base umpire Hunter Wendelstedt moved behind the plate to finish the game.
The delay for Porter's injury effected Karstens.
"Once that happened, I slowed down," Karstens said. "I threw a pitch and one fly ball, then another fly ball. The other guys had singles. Things kind of tumbled."
Pittsburgh pushed across two runs in the fourth to take a 2-1 lead. Neil Walker's sacrifice put runners on second and third for Lastings Milledge, who singled to center for the Pirates' first run. Chris Snyder followed with a sacrifice fly.
