Recap: Pittsburgh vs. Houston
Sports Network | September 19, 2008
Pittsburgh, PA (Sports Network) - Randy Wolf was solid on the hill and Hunter Pence drove in three runs as the Houston Astros topped the Pirates, 5-1, in the opener of a three-game set.
Wolf (11-12) allowed just a run on three hits and a walk while fanning seven in seven frames to help the Astros snap a poorly timed five-game slide. Pence had two of Houston's six hits, while Geoff Blum and Ty Wigginton each had an RBI.
"It feels good to get a win," Pence said. "To have the kind of pitching performance Wolf had helped set the tempo for us."
Houston is now 4 1/2 games behind the Phillies in the NL wild card hunt.
Ian Snell (6-12), winless in three starts, yielded two runs -- one earned -- on three hits and five walks for the Pirates, who have lost four of five. Adam LaRoche hit a home run and had two of Pittsburgh's four hits.
"I was fine," Snell said. "I just didn't expect to walk five people. It's been a struggle this whole year with command."
After three scoreless frames, both teams got on the board in the fourth. Lance Berkman, who walked three times, and Blum each worked free passes before Pence singled home Berkman and Wigginton recorded a run-scoring groundout.
LaRoche accounted for the Pirates' only run in the bottom half with his 23rd homer of the year, a blast to straightaway center.
The score remained 2-1 until Houston's three-run eighth. With two runners aboard, Blum recorded an RBI infield single, and Pence followed with a double in front of a diving Nate McLouth to plate a pair for the game's final runs.
Wolf is 5-2 in 11 starts since being traded to Houston mid-season...Each team left five runners on base...The season series is tied, 7-7.
