Astros 3, Pirates 2
Carlos Lee returned after missing three games with a rib injury and singled home the go-ahead run, and Wandy Rodriguez continued his recent mastery of the Pittsburgh Pirates as the visiting Houston Astros posted a 3-2 victory Friday night.
Hunter Pence had two hits and drove in two runs, and Mark Melancon recorded his first career save for Houston, which snapped a three-game losing streak.
Brandon Wood had an RBI double in the fifth and Neil Walker hit his fourth homer of the season in the seventh for Pittsburgh, which dropped to 4-9 at home.
Lee greeted reliever Jose Veras with a line single to left in the eighth which plated Pence from second and gave Houston the lead. Pence doubled off Chris Resop (1-1) one batter earlier to score Michael Bourn with the tying run.
Pence has hit in 10 straight and is batting .408 (20-for-49) with runners in scoring position.
Rodriguez (2-3) allowed two runs and five hits in seven innings to win his fourth straight start against Pittsburgh. The lefthander allowed two earned runs in 23 1/3 innings with 28 strikeouts in his previous three starts against the Pirates.
Wilton Lopez and Fernando Abad logged the eighth, and Melancon filled in for injured closer Brandon Lyon with a perfect ninth.
Pittsburgh starter Paul Maholm yielded a first-inning run and five hits in seven innings.