Game 90 Recap-
The Houston Astros plated 4 runs in the 1st, hi-lighted by a SS Geoff Blum 3 run homer, & never looked back, beating the Pittsburgh Pirates, 6-4 Wednesday at PNC Park. The win avoids a 3 game sweep for the Astros, “I think that win was pretty necessary considering the way things have been going with the 17-inning game, the rain delays and 5-hour losses and things like that,” Blum said. “It’s good to get out of here with a win.”
The Pirates battled vs Astros veteran RH Brian Moehler(5-4,4.28) and scored a run in the 2nd(ground out) & 2 in the 3rd(C Ryan Doumit single & LF Jason Bay double) to make it 4-3. Pirates RH John Van Benschoten(1-2,9.77) settled down after the 1st and battled into the 5th, over 4 2/3 he gave up 7 hits & 4 runs with 6 walks and 6 Ks.
Pirates 2b Freddy Sanchez hit a sacrifice fly to tie the game in the 5th, scoring CF Nate McLouth. However, the Astros took the lead with two in the 7th vs LH Sean Burnett(1-2,4.88) via a ground out & rbi double from 2b Kaz Matsui. Houston turned to RH closer Jose Valverde(4-2,3.98) in the 9th and after an early baserunner, he got the final outs for his 23rd save.
Star of the Game-
Blum- Homer was a big blow and set the tone
Pirates Notes-
McLouth had 3 of the teams 8 hits(all doubles, giving him 32)… Vam Benschoten was optioned down to Triple A… Doug Mientkiewicz played 3b and was 0 for 3
Next Game-
Make up of rain out vs NY Yankees
7:05 PNC Park
Pirates LH Paul Maholm(5-5,4.05) vs NY Yankees RH Mike Mussina(11-6,3.64)
