Norris: 14-K gold star
(c) Associated Press
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Bud Norris gave up a triple and a homer to start the game Saturday but bounced back to post a Minute Maid Park-record 14 strikeouts in a 3-2 triumph over the Pirates. Norris allowed just three hits and a walk over seven innings after Andrew McCutchen and Garrett Jones opened the contest with a triple to right-center and a homer into the right field seats. Norris also added two hits of his own plus a sacrifice bunt in the winning rally.
Wilton Lopez and Brandon Lyon held the lead for the second night in a row. They added three more strikeouts to total 17 Pirate victims on the night. It was Lyon's fifth straight game and his second save in two nights.
Hunter Pence was the offensive star as he lined a solo homer into the Crawfords off Paul Maholm in the fourth to slice the deficit to 2-1. Houston had men in scoring position the next three innings but didn't cash in until the seventh when Humberto Quintero opened with a single and Norris bunted pinch-runner Jason Bourgeois to second.
After pinch-hitter Pedro Feliz struck out, Angel Sanchez came through with a looping single to right-center that tied the game. Sanchez advanced to second on the throw to the plate. Pence, who added a double in the sixth to go with his earlier solo homer, drilled a double high off the bullpen in left to bring in Sanchez with the game-winning run.
Carlos Lee made his first start as a first baseman since 1999 but Brad Mills did not indicate how much we could expect to see Lee there the rest of the season. At the plate, Carlos was oh-for-four.
The Astros go for the sweep and a 9-0 home record against the Bucs on Sunday with J.A. Happ (2-1) taking the mound against Jeff Karstens (2-8) in a 1:05 Central contest. A win would put Houston back over .500 for the month.
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