Astros 6, Pirates 4
Humberto Quintero and Michael Bourn delivered RBI singles in a three-run eighth inning as the Houston Astros ended a five-game losing streak with a 6-4 victory over the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates on Saturday.
Jeff Keppinger homered for the Astros, who won for just the third time in the last 11 meetings.
Neil Walker, Lyle Overbay and Brandon Wood all went deep for the Pirates, who entered in first place for the first time since 1992, percentage points ahead of St. Louis in the National League Central.
It was, however, a short stay as the Astros avoided their longest skid in more than a year, and the Cardinals topped the Reds on Saturday.
Walker's RBI single in the sixth gave Pittsburgh a 4-3 lead. Houston tied the game at 4 when All-Star Hunter Pence walked, stole third and scored on a fielder’s choice from pinch-hitter Brett Wallace. Clint Barmes reached on an error by third baseman Wood, and Quintero’s single to center off Jose Veras (2-3) plated pinch-runner Brian Bogusevic.
Bourn followed with a run-scoring single to left-center. Mark Melancon closed it with a perfect ninth for his seventh save in 10 chances.
Sergio Escalona (2-1) earned the victory with a scoreless seventh.