Houston Astros 3 Pittsburgh Pirates 5 (April 26, 2007)
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0 commentsFor the final game of the series, Pittsburgh and Houston did not send their aces to the mound. The Astros started Wandy Rodriguez(0-2) and Pittsburgh threw Tony Armas Jr.(0-2) out on the mound. Surprisingly, this matchup turned out to be a pitchers' duel.
After Lance Berkman hit a sac fly in the top of the first to put the Astros up 1-0, neither team scored again until the sixth inning.
Armas lasted 5 innings, allowing 1 run and striking out 4.
In the bottom of the sixth, Rodriguez lost his shutout. Jose Castillo singled, Chris Duffy walked, and Freddy Sanchez was safe on Mike Lamb's error to load the bases with one out for Jason Bay. Bay lined the ball to rightfield to score two runners. The Pirates were up 2-1.
Pittsburgh relievers Jonah Bayliss and Matt Capps combined to pitch three scoreless innings in relief of Armas.
Wandy Rodriguez walked Duffy to start the bottom of the eigth. Chad Qualls relieved him and allowed a single to Jack Wilson. Freddy Sanchez sacrificed the runners over to 2nd and 3rd. Not wanting to be bit by Bay's bat again, Houston intentionally walked Jason Bay to load the bases with 1 out. Qualls hit Xavier Nady with the pitch, putting the Pirates up 3-1. After Adam LaRoche struck out, Ryan Doumit lined the ball over the second baseman's head into rightfield to bring home two runners.
Salomon Torres came in to close the game in the ninth up 5-1. Torres struggled to finish off the Astros. With one out, Torres walked Chris Burke, allowed a single to Mark Loretta and walked Berkman to load the bases. Carlos Lee hit a sac fly and Jim Tracy yanked Torres from the game. With John Grabow pitching, Lamb singled to center, scoring Loretta. Morgan Ensberg walked to load the bases up again with two outs. Adam Everett grounded to Jose Castillo at third base, and he quickly threw the ball to second for a force out to end the game.
Game Notes:
- Jonah Bayliss(2-1) was credited with the win.
- John Grabow recorded his first save of the year.
- Wandy Rodriguez struck out 7 in 7 innings.
- Carlos Lee drove in his 21st RBI.
Date
April 26, 2007
