Astros 4, Pirates 1
Brett Myers outdueled Brad Lincoln and Humberto Quintero drove in three as the Houston Astros snapped a four-game slide with a 4-1 victory over the host Pittsburgh Pirates on Tuesday.
Jimmy Paredes drove in a run and scored a pair and Clint Barmes had two hits for the Astros, who managed to stave off franchise history for at least one more day. Houston (48-94) is within three losses of matching the franchise record.
The Pirates (65-77) moved one setback closer to their 19th consecutive losing season.
Myers (4-13) struck out six and did not walk a batter in 7 2/3 innings to earn his first win since June 17. The veteran righthander surrendered one run and four hits before yielding to the bullpen.
Wesley Wright got the final out of the eighth and Mark Melancon worked the ninth for his 17th save.
Lincoln (1-2) ran into his only spot of trouble in the second, allowing hits to Carlos Lee and Brian Bogusevic leading off the frame before Parades pushed a run home with a fielder’s choice. Quintero’s double two batters later scored Paredes from first.
Houston put it away with two runs in the ninth.
Ryan Doumit hit a solo homer for Pittsburgh.