Pittsburgh Pirates can’t solve the Astros, fall 4-1 Saturday
By Drew Shetler
The trouble for the Pirates in the second half has been that they can’t beat the bad baseball teams. That trend continued tonight against the Houston Astros. The Astros handed the Pirates their fifth straight loss by beating them 4-1 Saturday night at Minute Maid Field.
August 14, 2012; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Kevin Correia (29) throws a pitch against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the first inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-US PRESSWIRE
Kevin Correia pitched brilliantly through six innings, striking out nine batters, which tied a career high. Correia’s one big mistake came in the seventh inning when Jason Castro hit a three-run homer off of him, only Castro’s third homer in 235 at-bats.
It was another first inning deficit for the Pirates. However, this one was manageable as it was only 1-0. The deficit could have been worse if it wasn’t for something very rare that the Pirates did.
That rare thing was catcher Michael McKenry throwing out a base stealer. After a leadoff single, Jose Altuve was caught trying to steal second base.
But that 1-0 deficit was within easy reach of Gaby Sanchez’s long leadoff homer in the second, his seventh of the season and fourth with the Pirates.
The Pirates will send ace A.J. Burnett to the hill Sunday afternoon at 2:05 in hope that he can end the five-game skid.