Pirates snap skid
HOUSTON (AP) – Kip Wells won for the fifth time in six starts as the Pittsburgh Pirates snapped a four-game losing streak with a 5-3 victory over the Houston Astros on Sunday night. Aramis Ramirez, who missed 21 Pirates games this season because of a suspension and ankle injury, hit his first home run of the season. The two-run shot in the first inning helped Pittsburgh stop Houston’s seven-game winning streak.
Houston also had its eight-game, home-winning streak – the longest at Astros Field – broken.
Wells (6-2), from the Houston suburb of Missouri City, beat the Astros for the first time in two career outings. He went 6 2-3 innings and allowed one run on five hits and three walks. He struck out five.
Astros starter Dave Mlicki (3-5) lasted only 3 2-3 innings and allowed four runs, three earned, on seven hits and three walks. It was Mlicki’s third loss in a row, sandwiched around a no-decision in his last start, and was his shortest outing of the year.
Chad Hermansen had an RBI single, and Mlicki’s throwing error on a bunt by Jack Wilson allowed Pokey Reese to score to make it 4-1 in the fourth.
Adrian Brown’s pinch-hit sacrifice fly drove in Kevin Young to make it 5-1 in the eighth.
Mlicki singled up the middle to drive in Gregg Zaun to bring the Astros within 2-1 in the second inning. Morgan Ensberg singled in two runs in the eighth off Mike Williams, who got the final four outs for his 15th save in 15 chances. Williams has earned saves in his last 10 appearances, a club record.
NOTES: Longtime player, broadcaster and manager Larry Dierker had his No. 49 jersey retired by the Astros in a pregame ceremony. A huge temporary banner with his name and number was unveiled high above left field. A smaller pennant will hang among the other retired numbers in the rafters. … Ramirez broke out of a 2-for-22 slump, including 11 strikeouts, with his homer. … Brian Giles was 1-for-20 against Houston pitching before his first-inning single.
Benson bounces back
Kris Benson, the No. 1 player taken in the 1996 draft, took a no-decision in his second start in 19 months Saturday night. He allowed one run and six hits in seven innings.
“My stuff was good and I came into the game feeling good. This was my best outing in almost two years. It’s a big relief to know I can pitch well up here,” Benson said.