Pittsburgh @ Houston preview
Minute Maid Park
Last Meeting ( Aug 13, 2010 ) Pittsburgh 1, Houston 4
The Pittsburgh Pirates had a slim one-run lead heading into the eighth inning on Friday. But, as has been the case all year, the Pirates once again couldn’t find their way to Victory Lane.
Instead, the Houston Astros rallied to victory after a three-run home run from Carlos Lee, sending the Pirates went back to the hotel with a five-game losing streak.
Pittsburgh and Houston meet for the second contest of a three-game series on Saturday night. The Pirates send left-hander Paul Maholm to the mound, while the Astros counter with right-hander Bud Norris.
Maholm has struggled of late, as his ERA has jumped from 3.98 on June 28 to 4.90. When he faced the Chicago Cubs on June 28, Maholm threw eight innings and allowed one run.
In his last start against the Colorado Rockies on Sunday, Maholm lasted only 2 2/3 innings, allowing eight runs - six earned - on seven hits with two walks and one strikeout.
In his previous start against the Reds, he gave up four runs over six innings. And, when he faced the Rockies on July 29, he allowed eight runs over 5 1/3 innings.
Maholm did pitch well against the Astros the last time he faced them. He threw a complete-game shutout, allowing only three hits with no walks and one strikeout. Lifetime against Houston, Maholm is 9-5 with a 3.55 ERA in 15 starts.
Offensively, the Pirates managed only one run on Friday, scoring on an RBI single from Neil Walker. They finished 1-for-6 with runners in scoring position, and left seven men on base.
Norris, meanwhile, hasn’t pitched too well for the Astros of late. Over his last five starts, Norris has recorded a 2-1 mark, but has a 4.91 ERA in the process.
In his last start against the NL East-leading Atlanta Braves on Monday, Norris went 6 2/3 innings, allowing four runs and seven hits with two walks and three strikeouts.
Norris has faced the Pirates once this season, lasting only 4 2/3 innings, allowing seven runs and nine hits in a 12-6 loss on July 17. Lifetime against Pittsburgh, Norris is 1-1 with a 4.22 ERA in two starts.
Offensively, Lee provided the pivotal play on Friday, launching the three-run home run in the eighth. The slugger is hitting .357 with nine RBIs in the month of August.
After Lee's blast, Brett Wallace followed with an RBI single later in the inning.
The Astros finished 2-for-7 with runners in scoring position, and left eight men on base.