Martinez: Two-run single in the sixth
(c) AP/Pat Sullivan
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A six-run sixth-inning offensive rampage and a two-hit outing by starter Henry Sosa gave the Houston Hooks Astros an 8-2 victory over the Pirates Tuesday night. It was Houston's third consecutive win.
J.D. Martinez drove in three runs on three hits, while Jose Altuve homered with two RBIs. Martinez set a single-month franchise rookie record for RBIs at 28, and is one short of tying the NL record for rookie RBIs for August.
Altuve tied the score 1-1 in the fifth with a Crawford Box solo shot, his first-ever homer to leave the park.
Eleven Houston batters stood in at the box in the sixth, scoring six runs. At one point in the frame, the Astros hit five consecutive singles.
Matt Downs broke the 1-1 deadlock with pinch single, then Jordan Shafer singled his way on to juice the bases. An Altuve RBI single, followed by a Martinez two-run single put Houston up 5-1. A Carlos Lee single and Jimmy Paredes double made it 7-1.
Sosa, who picked up his second major league victory in five starts, held the Bucs to two hits and one run over his six innings, fanning seven and walking one.
The Astros go for a rare sweep in Wednesday's finale when J.A. Happ (4-15, 6.03) faces Pittsburgh's James McDonald (8-6, 4.22) at 7:05 p.m. CT.
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