Pirates lose to Houston, again
Houston has won 14 of 15 to pull within three games of NL wild card-leading Milwaukee, which lost 6-3 at Philadelphia, but it’s uncertain when the Astros will play again. The first two games of their weekend series against the Chicago Cubs were postponed and Sunday’s matchup could be next with Hurricane Ike closing in on Texas. Oswalt (15-9) hasn’t allowed a run in 32 1-3 innings, passing the previous record of 31 set by J.R. Richard in 1980. He needed only 90 pitches to finish his sixth career shutout and 15th complete game.
Oswalt retired 20 in a row after Luis Rivas’ one-out single in the first inning on his way to winning for the ninth time in 10 decisions. He finished with a three-hitter.
The Astros have won six straight and their 36-16 record since the All-Star break is the best mark in the majors.
Oswalt also drove in two runs for the Astros, who’ve won nine straight at Minute Maid Park, matching their longest home win streak since July 2005.
The Pirates have lost six in a row and 17 of 20.
Houston went in front in the third and added five more runs in the fifth to take a 6-0 lead, chasing Pirates starter Zach Duke (5-14).
Reggie Abercrombie led off the third with a bunt single and advanced to third on Duke’s wild throw past first baseman Adam LaRoche. One out later, Oswalt dropped a sacrifice bunt and Abercrombie sprinted home to make it 1-0.
Hunter Pence singled in the Houston fifth to extend his hitting streak to 13 games. He went to third when Doug Mientkiewicz made an errant throw into the outfield trying to start a double play. Abercrombie drove in Pence with a bloop single to center and Brad Ausmus singled to load the bases.
Oswalt, Darin Erstad, Mark Loretta and Miguel Tejada each drove in a run, and Pittsburgh manager John Russell replaced Duke with Marino Salas. Oswalt singled in Jose Castillo and scored when Miguel Tejada extended his hitting streak to 12 games with a double.
Oswalt was coming off a one-hitter in Colorado on Saturday, and was just as dominant in this one.
The only moment he seemed uncomfortable came in the fourth, when he ducked to avoid shards of Ryan Doumit’s shattered bat on a groundout. Oswalt retired eight straight Pirates on groundouts between the fourth and sixth.
Mientkiewicz singled with one out in the eighth to end Oswalt’s run of consecutive outs. Steve Pearce promptly grounded into a double play. Luis Cruz singled with one out in the ninth, but Oswalt got pinch-hitter Jason Michaels to roll into a game-ending double play.
NOTES: Houston starters have won 12 of their last 14 decisions. … Duke has lost 10 of his last 11 decisions. … The Astros completed their first four-game home sweep of the Pirates since May 2003.
Copyright Associated Press 2008