Pirates hand Astros 10th loss in row with 5-3 win - 21 News Now, More Local News for Youngstown, Ohio -

Pirates hand Astros 10th loss in row with 5-3 win

Updated:

HOUSTON (AP) - Prized prospect Starling Marte homered on his first major league pitch and the Pittsburgh Pirates jumped out to an early lead before holding on for a 5-3 win over the Houston Astros on Thursday night.

A.J. Burnett (12-3) shut out the Astros for seven innings before Chris Johnson and Carlos Corporan connected for solo homers in the eighth to cut the lead to 5-2, bringing Brad Lincoln out of the bullpen with one out.

Johnson hit a two-out RBI single off Joel Hanrahan in the ninth, but Hanrahan struck out Brian Bogusevic for his 30th save.

Pirates fans couldn't wait for Marte, who was recalled from AAA Indianapolis, to reach the majors and he didn't disappoint, taking rookie Dallas Keuchel's first pitch for a leadoff home run to left-center.

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Powered by WorldNow
All content © Copyright 2000 - 2013 Worldnow and WFMJ. All Rights Reserved. For more information on this site, please read our Privacy Policy and Terms