Pence: Goes deep in second
(c) Associated Press
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The two worst-hitting teams in the National League staged a 12-6 slugfest Saturday night in Pittsburgh with the Pirates defeating the Astros for their first win of the season in eight tries against Houston. In doing so, both teams showcased that poor hitting isn't their only problem. Poor pitching is too.
Pittsburgh got three unearned runs in the first off Bud Norris, aided by Chris Johnson's throwing error but the Astros bounced back with four runs in the second against Ross Ohlendorf, who was pulled before the inning was over.
The Bucs retook the lead in their half of the second with two runs then the Astros answered in the fifth with two to retake the lead, 6-5, on Johnson's two-run double.
But Pittsburgh came back with two more runs charged to Norris then feasted on Houston's hapless middle relief for five more tallies to make the final score look more like a cakewalk than a nailbiter. The Pirate bullpen took over with four innings of hitless relief.
Pittsburgh pounded a season-high 17 hits and eight different batters drove in runs with seven players having multi-hit nights.
The series finale takes place Sunday at PNC Park as Roy Oswalt (6-10) seeks to tie Joe Niekro's franchise record for victories when he takes the mound against lefthander Paul Maholm (5-7) in a 12:35 Central contest.
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