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Pirates Vs. Astros: Bucs Singled To Death In 8-2 Rout

A series of weakly-hit balls ended up ruining an otherwise-decent start by Charlie Morton.

By Charlie Wilmoth
HOUSTON - AUGUST 30: Manager Clint Hurdle #50 of the Pittsburgh Pirates takes the ball from pitcher Charlie Morton #50 in the sixth inning at Minute Maid Park on August 30, 2011 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)
HOUSTON - AUGUST 30: Manager Clint Hurdle #50 of the Pittsburgh Pirates takes the ball from pitcher Charlie Morton #50 in the sixth inning at Minute Maid Park on August 30, 2011 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)
Getty Images

Charlie Morton pitched five strong innings against the Houston Astros Tuesday night, but an endless sixth inning in which neither he nor the Pirates' relief pitchers could catch a break did the Bucs in.

Morton struck out eight batters in 5.1 innings but allowed four runs overall, thanks to the Astros' sixth, in which one weakly-hit ball after another fell in for a hit. Morton was relieved by Chris Leroux, who continued allowing weak singles, and then Dan McCutchen entered and allowed a double to Jimmy Paredes. By the time it was all over, the Astros had seven runs. (They tacked on another in the seventh inning.)

The Pirates' offense, meanwhile, managed only four hits, including a meaningless ninth-inning solo homer by Andrew McCutchen. The Pirates also struck out 11 times and walked once, even though the Astros' starter was minor-league veteran Henry Sosa.

For more on the Pirates, check out Bucs Dugout.

Photographs by dizfunk used in background montage under Creative Commons. Thank you.