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The Leading Logic In Sports Handicapping |
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PITTSBURGH (Ticker) -- The Pittsburgh Pirates won the battle for
avoiding the basement in the National League Central against the
Houston Astros on Monday at PNC Park as Pittsburgh rallied twice
during a 10-7 victory.
Houston (42-49) and Pittsburgh (41-47) were each seven games
under .500, tied for last place in the six-team division
entering the first of a three-game series.
The Astros took a 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning
against Pirates starter Phil Dumatrait who was pitching for the
first time since being put on the disabled list June 22 due to
bursitis in his left shoulder. Carlos Lee's 2-run home run into
the left field bleachers highlighted the Astros first inning.
Pittsburgh came back quickly with four in the bottom of the
first when Xavier Nady, Adam LaRoche, Doug Mientkiewicz and
Dumatrait hit consecutive RBI singles. It was Dumatrait's first
career hit and RBI after going 0-for-24 at the plate since last
year.
The Pirates upped their lead to 5-3 on Nate McLouth's home run
over the right field stands to lead off the second. McLouth,
who has 16 home runs, is the Pirates' All-Star Game
representative.
Despite allowing 10 of the first 15 batters he faced to reach
base, Houston manager Cecil Cooper left starting pitcher
Runelvys Hernandez in the game because of a taxed bullpen from
the previous day's 7-6, 17-inning loss at Atlanta. Hernandez
bunted for an RBI in the fourth inning that was part of a
four-run rally by the Astros, who took a 7-6 lead.
"With the bullpen being a little light, we just had to keep
sending him out there..He had to go. We needed the innings from
him and that was the bottom line," Cooper said. "His command was
an issue. His ball was running all over the place and when he
finally did get it over, he got more of the plate than we
needed. The home run ball to McLouth, was right there. ..We
score 6-7 runs, but we just can't seem to stop the bleeding."
Hernandez only lasted through four innings as the Pirates came
back with four in their half of the fourth, highlighted by Ryan
Doumit's two-run homer and relief pitcher Denny Bautista's first
career hit and RBI.
"I try every day to give 100 percent all the time, but today I
felt like crap," Hernandez said. "My mind was set to throw nine
innings. I made some good pitches, but they took advantage and
there were a lot of bloopers. I've worked so hard to try and
come back to get to the big leagues. This is my chance. I'm not
happy the way I pitched right now because I know I'm better than
that."
Bautista (2-1) got the victory, going 2 2/3 perfect innings.
Bautista and Tyler Yates, who followed Bautista in relief,
combined to strike out seven of eight Houston batters from the
sixth through the eighth innings.
"It feels very good. Last night I threw one inning and gave up
like four runs, so tonight I come back and they gave me the ball
and I felt great," Bautista said. "I thought, this is my time, I
need to throw strikes, make pitches and get outs."
Damaso Marte recorded the save, his second of the season,
pitching a scoreless ninth inning for Pittsburgh.
"Bautista came in and did a great job, Tyler Yates was
phenomenal, and Marte - fortunately we have been able to give
him a few days off, which was much-needed. He threw the ball
very well," Pirates manager John Russell said. "So the bullpen
saved us, being able to hold a game that offensively looked like
it could go on
a long time. We swung the bats really well, and the bullpen shut
them down."
Hernandez (0-3) took the loss, giving up 10 runs and
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