Lack of run support foils Lincoln
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Catcher Ryan Doumit tags out the Astros' Jimmy Paredes at the plate to help the Pirates get out of the eighth inning. -
Pirates starter Brad Lincoln delivers against the Astros.
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The Pirates were undone Tuesday night by a dominant pitching performance by a Houston Astros pitcher with double-digit losses.
Sound familiar?
Thirteen-game loser Brett Myers stymied the Pirates, posting one of his best outings this season as the Astros beat the Pirates, 4-1, at PNC Park.
"He's a better pitcher than his win-loss record," Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said.
It showed.
Myers (4-13) allowed one earned run on four hits in 7 2/3 innings. He did not walk a batter and struck out six.
Last Wednesday, it was 15-game loser J.A. Happ who cruised against the Pirates lineup, pitching seven scoreless innings in a 2-0 Houston victory. Happ is scheduled to pitch again tonight against the Pirates.
Game: Pirates vs. Astros, 7:05 p.m., PNC Park.
TV, radio: Root Sports, WPGB-FM (104.7).
Pitching: LHP Brian Burres (1-0, 1.69) vs. LHP J.A. Happ (5-15, 5.71).
Key matchup: Astros vs. left-handed pitching. Houston is second in the National League with a .269 batting average against left-handed pitchers.
Hidden stat: Derrek Lee, the Pirates' most veteran player, has one career at-bat vs. Happ. Andrew McCutchen has 19.
Myers used a healthy mix of cut fastballs, curveballs and sliders, and, when he wasn't throwing his pitches for strikes, he usually had batters chasing them.
"I think that's what you're going to get with Brett Myers," Chase d'Arnaud said. "He gives you a steady dose of his cutter, slider and curveball. It's best to just sit outer half with him and not budge."
But the Pirates were more aggressive, often swinging at pitches early in the count. That allowed Myers to keep his pitch count low. He threw 92 pitches, 65 for strikes.
The win broke a career high seven-game losing streak for Myers, who skipped his previous scheduled start after his wife gave birth to their fourth child.
Pirates starter Brad Lincoln (1-2) added another solid performance to a recent stretch of strong outings. He lasted six innings, allowing two earned runs on five hits. His six strikeouts tied a career high, set June 30, 2010, in a 2-0 victory against the Chicago Cubs.
"You see more confidence on the mound, if nothing else," Hurdle said.
"Very aggressive. It's right after the bat -- he's not pitching away from the bat."
First Published September 7, 2011 12:00 am
