Here is one astounding way to dissect Tom Gorzelanny's season to date ...

	Matt Freed, Post-Gazette photos The Pirates' Tom Gorzelanny gave up only two runs against the Astros last night, but abandoned by the Pirates' offense, was left stranded with another loss. Click photo for larger image. Today Game: Pirates (LHP Paul Maholm 5-12, 4.68) vs. LHP Wandy Rodriguez (6-8, 4.33), 7:05 p.m., PNC Park. TV, radio: FSN Pittsburgh, WPGB-FM (104.7). Key matchup: Jason Bay is 9 for 15 vs. Rodriguez, with two home runs and nine RBIs. Of note: Fans are asked to be in their seats by 7 p.m. for a pregame ceremony to retire Paul Waner's No. 11. Ralph Kiner and Bill Mazeroski, two others to be so honored, will be among the participants. Related articles Pirates stress that Wilson still 'our shortstop' Pirates Notebook: Snell calls Rockies to apologize
	Left fielder Jason Bay climbs the wall to try to catch a home run hit by Houston's Carlos Lee in the first inning last night. Click photo for larger image.

His record fell to 9-5 after the Pirates' 2-1 loss to Houston last night at PNC Park. And all of the Astros' offense came on Carlos Lee's two-run home run in the first inning, after which Gorzelanny coolly put up six zeroes.

Another tough one, right?

Wait.

In Gorzelanny's five losses, the Pirates have given him a total of three runs of offensive support.

Four other times, Gorzelanny has handed a lead to the bullpen, only to see it squandered.

Add those nine highly unfortunate occasions to his nine actual victories, and it seems almost reasonable -- if not terribly rational -- that his record in 20 starts could be ... 18-2.

"Gorzo's record is a reflection of the team, not of him," reliever Shawn Chacon said. "And this is just another example of that. He didn't have his best stuff, but he went out there and pitched great for us again."

Someone mentioned to Chacon that 18-2 figure, and his eyes widened.

"I always say things even out in this game. All Tom has to do is keep doing what he's doing. Those wins will come."

It appeared this win would come, somehow, for the Pirates.

They had superlative defensive play, highlighted by right fielder Ryan Doumit gunning down Mark Loretta at home on what should have been a bases-loaded single in the seventh. They had scoreless relief from Chacon and Matt Capps. They even had a season-high five doubles to mount threats every other inning.

Alas, they would strand 11 runners, including bases loaded in the ninth, and go a mind-bending 1 for 14 with runners in scoring position.

"We pitched great, and we made some great defensive plays," manager Jim Tracy said. "We did everything a Major League Baseball team could possibly do except hit with runners in scoring position. That's what this boils down to. We had a lot of opportunities. We failed to cash in."

As a result, the Pirates failed to win for the seventh time in a row since the All-Star break, extending their longest losing streak and showing them 15 games below .500.

And, yes, for anyone still checking the Central Division standings, the Pirates are in last place for the first time since April 21, Houston having leapfrogged them.

"It's not easy right now," Gorzelanny said. "But we've got to find a way to battle through it."

The Pirates engaged more in skirmishes than battles on this night.

With a man aboard and two outs in Houston's first inning, Lee capitalized on a pitch Gorzelanny acknowledged was a mistake, uppercutting a 3-1 fastball high and into the second row of bleachers beyond left field for his 19th home run.

"It was supposed to be a two-seamer away, and it cut in," Gorzelanny said.

Soon after, the Pirates would begin wasting doubles. They led off four innings with doubles and made only one count, when Jason Bay's two-out single through the left side against Roy Oswalt brought home Freddy Sanchez from second.

Otherwise, nothing.

Even when Oswalt, Houston's ace, was forced to exit after Ronny Paulino's double that opened the seventh -- Oswalt felt pain in his upper right chest and was listed as day to day -- they fared no better against the Astros' wobbly bullpen.

Nate McLouth ended that inning by grounding into a double play for the first time all season.

Matt Kata's double that opened the eighth was rendered moot when Doumit and Bay fanned for the final two outs.

And the ninth inning ...

The Pirates had the bases loaded with one out against closer Brad Lidge, this thanks to a Paulino single, a Xavier Nady walk and McLouth getting hit by a pitch.

Or so home plate umpire Joe West ruled.

Replays showed rather conclusively that the pitch to McLouth hit the dirt between his feet and never made contact. But McLouth quickly -- and convincingly-- raised his left foot and limped out of the box, and West promptly pointed to first base.

Houston manager Phil Garner argued briefly, to no avail.

"I didn't think it hit him then, and I still don't," Astros catcher Brad Ausmus said. "I thought he did a nice acting job."

Kata lashed Lidge's first pitch down the first-base line for what looked like a winning double, and most of the 33,541 in attendance leaped and celebrated. But it was correctly ruled foul.

Kata struck out swinging.

Sanchez, the last hope, also struck out swinging, but that was not the end.

The final pitch bounced in the dirt, skipped over Ausmus' left shoulder and struck West in the chest protector. Rajai Davis, the Pirates' pinch-runner at third, sprinted toward home with what would have been the tying run.

But, because the ball hit West, it did not go far. And Ausmus, after a frantic scramble, barehanded the ball and smacked it down on home plate for the forceout.

"Panic time," Ausmus called it.

The Pirates have scored 20 runs in the seven losses since the break.