Sports Network | August 14, 2010
Houston, TX (Sports Network) - Carlos Lee belted the game-winning three-run home run as part of a four-run eighth inning that lifted Houston to a 4-1 come-from-behind win over Pittsburgh to begin a three-game series.
Wilton Lopez (4-0) tossed a scoreless eighth inning to earn the win after Brett Myers yielded a lone run on seven hits with seven strikeouts over seven frames for the Astros, who have won all seven meetings at Minute Maid Park this season. Brandon Lyon worked a scoreless ninth inning to earn his third save of the season.
"You can't say enough about Myers," said Houston skipper Brad Mills. "Again, going seven innings and doing a great job. They fouled off a lot of pitches early and really got his pitch count up a little bit. He settled down after the first couple innings and started the throwing the ball really well."
Evan Meek (4-4) suffered the blown save and loss after permitting all four runs on five hits and a walk while recording only one out for the Pirates, who have lost five in a row.
Pedro Alvarez had three hits and a walk while Neil Walker and Andrew McCutchen added two hits apiece for Pittsburgh, which has lost eight consecutive road games.
Meek started the eighth protecting a 1-0 lead. Angel Sanchez singled with one out and advanced when Hunter Pence walked. Lee then belted a hanging slider into the Crawford Boxes in left field to put Houston in front for the first time in the game.
Geoff Blum and Chris Johnson then singled in front of Brett Wallace, who sliced a base hit into left field to plate Blum to make it 4-1 and chase Meek from the mound.
"Everything was up and when the ball is up, they're going to hit it," said Meek after giving up a season-high four runs. "I made a very, very bad pitch to Lee in a bad location. I just didn't execute any pitches tonight."
Wil Ledezma assumed the hill and retired the next two hitters to end the frame.
Lyon walked Alvarez to start the ninth and Lastings Milledge followed with a looping single into right field. Chris Snyder fanned for the first out before Lyon uncorked a wild pitch to push Alvarez to third. However, pinch-hitterDelwyn Young grounded into a double play to end the game.
Houston loaded the bases with one out in the first on singles by Sanchez and Pence and a walk to Lee but could not score after Blum struck out and Johnson flied out.
McCutchen singled with one out in the third, stole second base, moved to third on a groundout and scored the game's first run on Walker's single to center field.
Pittsburgh starter Ross Ohlendorf retired nine in a row before Michael Bourn walked and stole second base with two outs in the fifth but was stranded when Sanchez struck out.
Humberto Quintero singled with two outs in the seventh to chase Ohlendorf from the hill. Chris Resop came on and got pinch-hitter Pedro Feliz to bounce into a force out to end the inning.
Myers has gone at least six innings in his first 24 starts this season and became the 21st pitcher since 1920 to accomplish that feat...He also matched Darryl Kile for the second longest such streak in franchise history...Kile did it from May 4 - September 2, 1997...Houston has outhomered the Buccos 13-4 so far this season...The Astros have won 10 of the last 11 and 17 of the last 20 games between the teams in Houston...Pence has hit safely in 16 of his last 18 games, while Bourn went 0-for-3 and lost a nine-game hitting streak...Houston right-hander Felipe Paulino went to Birmingham, AL to get a second opinion on his right shoulder from Dr. James Andrews, who agreed with the current diagnosis of rest and treatment. Paulino has been sidelined since June 21...Milledge extended his hitting streak to 10 games...Ohlendorf is 0-6 against the Astros in 10 games, including eight starts...Jose Tabata went 0- for-4 and has gone hitless in back-to-back games for the first time since reaching the big leagues on June 9.