Astros 8, Pirates 2
Bud Norris pitched seven strong innings and Hunter Pence drove in two on three hits as the Houston Astros snapped a five-game losing streak with an 8-2 victory over the host Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday.
Jeff Keppinger added two RBIs and Michael Bourn doubled in a run for the Astros (30-58), who became the final team in the majors to reach 30 wins.
Norris (5-6) scattered seven hits and two runs to break a four-start winless streak. The burly righthander has allowed two earned runs or less in six of his last nine turns.
Houston gave Norris all the support he would need when the offense exploded for five runs in the sixth, matching the teams’ total from the previous three games.
Angel Sanchez tied it at 1-1 with an RBI double. Pence gave the Astros the lead when he followed with a single off Charlie Morton (7-5).
Pirates center fielder Andrew McCutchen, who drove in Pittsburgh’s two runs, had a rough time in the field during Houston’s rally. He committed an error on Sanchez’s double and misplayed a line drive by Carlos Lee into a triple.