May 12, 2002 4 min read

PITTSBURGH (AP) – It’s not just Pittsburgh rookie Josh Fogg’s 5-1 record that’s impressive. So is the growing list of opposing pitchers he is beating – Randy Johnson, Hideo Nomo and, now, Roy Oswalt. Fogg (5-1), off to the best start by a Pittsburgh rookie pitcher in 10 years, kept Houston in its offensive slump by pitching four-hit ball over seven innings and the Pirates beat the Astros 4-2 on Saturday night.

“I don’t think he’s a fluke because he throws strikes and he has a lot of poise,” manager Lloyd McClendon said. “No, I’m not surprised. His stuff is good, he pounds the strike zone and he doesn’t get rattled out there.”

Jack Wilson and Kevin Young, stuck in extended slumps, drove in runs as the Pirates won consecutive games for the first time in three weeks and ran Houston’s losing streak to a season-high five in a row.

Young’s RBI single in the sixth proved the difference, and the Pirates added an insurance run in the seventh on pinch-hitter Aramis Ramirez’s sacrifice fly – his first RBI since April 16. He hasn’t started since April 17 due to a seven-game suspension and a badly sprained ankle.

The Astros, dropping seven games below .500 for the first time this season, must win Sunday to avoid being swept on a six-game road trip to Philadelphia and Pittsburgh.

“This is probably a nice lineup to pitch to right now,” Jeff Bagwell said of the Astros, who have scored four runs in three games. “That will change, and we’ll be fine. It’s not like we’re playing terrible. We’re not hitting right now and we have a five-game losing streak because of it.”

Fogg followed up his 3-2 victory Monday over Johnson and Arizona by striking out six, walking none and shaking off Lance Berkman’s 14th homer. Fogg trails only the Dodgers’ Kazuhisa Ishii (6-0) in victories among NL rookies.

“You can’t be worrying about who you’re pitching against,” said Fogg, who has had a succession of starts against outstanding pitchers. “It’s a credit to our hitters, because they’re getting 3, 4, 5 runs against some tough pitchers.”

Of course, Fogg is making it easier on those hitters by pitching as well as he is. His 2.47 ERA ranks in the NL’s top 10, and he has allowed more than three runs only once in seven starts.

“I try to go out there with a lot of confidence, and I’m gaining more confidence as I go along,” said Fogg, one of three pitchers acquired from the White Sox in the trade for Todd Ritchie. “Then I try to take that into my next start.”

Oswalt, last year’s rookie star, lost for the second time in three starts after beginning his career 15-2 – the second-best 25-game start in the majors since 1980.

Oswalt twice hurt himself with uncharacteristic lapses of control. Oswalt, who struck out 25 and walked only one in beating Pittsburgh twice last season, walked only two in seven innings, but both came around to score.

Oswalt got into trouble in a two-run Pirates second by walking Young, who was batting .188, ahead of two-out RBI doubles by Rob Mackowiak and Jack Wilson. Wilson had been hitless in 26 at-bats.

“I’ve been walking guys and they’ve been scoring, and that’s not me,” said Oswalt, who has 13 walks in 54 innings. “I’ve been struggling with my control the last two or three starts, and it hurt me tonight.”

Berkman’s 14th homer, second in the majors to Sammy Sosa’s 15, cut the Pirates’ lead to 2-1 in the fourth, and a run-scoring double play grounder in the sixth tied it. Craig Biggio started that inning by being hit with a pitch for the 206th time and Jose Vizcaino singled before Bagwell grounded into the double play.

The Pirates retook the lead in their half of the sixth when Oswalt walked Brian Giles, also with one out, and Armando Rios and Young singled.

Brian Boehringer followed Fogg by pitching a scoreless eighth for the second straight night. Mike Williams, who finished last season as a Houston setup man before re-signing with the Pirates, pitched the ninth for his 13th save in as many chances. Notes:@ Fogg’s start is the best by a Pittsburgh rookie since knuckleballer Tim Wakefield was 8-1 in 1992, the last time the Pirates won a division title. … Williams converted his first 16 save opportunities last season. … The Pirates are 9-4 against the NL Central. … Berkman leads the majors with 38 RBIs. … Pittsburgh hadn’t won consecutive games since April 20-21.