 Jack Wilson connects for a 2-run homer in the 3rd.
By Jim Rosati
July 8, 2009
There's just something about Minute Maid Park that turns Pittsburgh Pirates' shortstop Jack Wilson into a power hitter.
Wilson started the scoring today with a 2-run home run off Houston Astros' starter Brian Moehler in the top of the 3rd inning. It was Wilson's 4th homer of the season and his 60th of his career. Out of those 60, 10 have come at Minute Maid Park, where his career HR/AB ratio of 1/71 all of a sudden turns to 1/22.
The Astros battled back, and tied the game at 2 after an RBI single by Hunter Pence in the bottom of the 6th.
After that, is when a Pirate offense that had registered just 3 hits in 6 innings decided to wake up.
After Houston walked the bases loaded, Garrett Jones scored on a throwing error by Lance Berkman. Then, Delwyn Young hit a pinch hit single that scored Andy LaRoche. Andrew McCutchen followed that up with an RBI single. And Wilson put a cap on the 4-run 7th inning with an RBI single of his own to give the Pirates a 6-2 lead.
Newly acquired Joel Hanrahan gave Houston hope in the bottom of the 7th as he let the first two batters reach base. However, John Grabow was able to do Houdini's work to get through the 7th and 8th allowing only a single run.
It was then time for Pirates' closer Matt Capps to cap off the win with a 1-2-3 9th inning. It was Capps' 19th save of the season and his 13th in a row.
The rubber match of the 3-game series will take place Wednesday at 2:05 ET. Pittsburgh's Charlie Morton (1-1, 2.65 ERA) will face Houston's Wandy Rodriguez (7-6, 3.21 ERA).(
Jim Rosati is a staff writer for Baseball-Now and the author of North Side Notch. Follow him on Twitter @northsidenotch. Jim can be reached by email at jim.rosati@baseball-now.com.
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