Houston @ Pittsburgh preview
PNC Park
Last Meeting ( Sep 24, 2010 ) Houston 10, Pittsburgh 7
The Houston Astros will look to make the most of another start from Bud Norris as they take on Pittsburgh Pirates on Saturday in the second contest of their three-game series.
Norris (9-8, 4.85 ERA) has won three straight starts and sports a 1.80 ERA over that stretch as the Astros have emerged victorious in 10 of his last 11 outings.
The 230-pounder is coming off an 8-2 win over the Washington Nationals. He gave up just two runs and six hits over 6 2/3 innings, marking the third straight start that he has gone at least six frames.
Norris is 2-1 lifetime against Pittsburgh with a 3.57 ERA. He was dominant the last time he faced the Pirates, striking out 14 over seven innings in a 3-2 win on Aug. 14.
The Astros (74-80) need to win seven of their last eight games to keep from booking their second straight losing season. They have finished under .500 only three times since consecutive losing seasons in 1990-91.
The club’s offense has been a major problem all year as it averages only 3.84 runs per game with a .249 team batting average.
Pittsburgh, on the other hand, secured its 18th straight losing year and topped the 100-loss mark for the first time since 2001 with Friday’s loss in the series opener.
The Astros got another big game from Hunter Pence in the 10-7 victory. Pence delivered a two-run double to highlight a four-run sixth inning and finished the day with three hits and three RBIs.
Pence is hitting .478 with three home runs and 12 RBIs against the Bucs this season. He is 4-for-11 lifetime against scheduled starter Zach Duke (7-14, 5.68 ERA).
Duke pitched a season-high 7 1/3 innings in a 4-3 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks the last time he took the mound, but didn’t factor in the decision. The lefty allowed 11 runs in just 4 1/3 innings combined over his previous two starts.
Duke, who is the all-time wins leader at PNC Park, threw well in his only start against the Astros this season, but took a 5-2 loss at home. He heads into this one with a 2-1 mark with a 1.57 ERA over his last four home starts against Houston.
The Pirates have now lost two straight after enjoying a five-game winning streak by sweeping the Diamondbacks and taking the first two games of a three-game set against the St. Louis Cardinals.