(Sports Network) - The Pittsburgh Pirates turn to former Houston starter Wandy
Rodriguez on Tuesday night in an attempt to even their three-game series with
the visiting Astros.
Rodriguez was dealt by the Astros on July 24 for a trio of minor leaguers and
made his Pirates debut four days later against his former club in Houston. The
left-hander did not factor into the decision of a 4-3 win, charged with three
runs on six hits and five walks over six innings.
Rodriguez, who was 7-9 with a 3.79 earned run average in 21 starts this year
with the Astros, then lost his next three starts with the Pirates before
picking up a relief victory in a 19-inning marathon at the St. Louis Cardinals
on Aug. 19.
Following another loss, Rodriguez finally earned his first triumph as a
starter with Pittsburgh, holding the Cardinals to three hits and three walks
over six scoreless frames of a 5-0 win.
The 33-year-old moved to 2-4 with a 4.12 ERA with the Pirates, who continue to
struggle as of late. They lost Monday's opener 5-1, their fourth loss in a row
that dropped the club 2 1/2 games back of a wild card spot.
Edgar Gonzalez made his season debut for the Astros and gave up one run on
five hits over 5 1/3 innings as Houston won for only the second time in nine
games.
"It was awesome," Astros manager Tony DeFrancesco said. "This guy threw
strikes, aggressive with his offspeed. He kept us in the game. No panic at
all. That was a big lift."
The top three hitters of the Astros' order led the offensive charge, with Jose
Altuve, Tyler Greene and Brett Wallace combining for seven of Houston's 10
hits while driving in three runs and scoring four times.
Jeff Locke took the loss in his first start of the season. The Pittsburgh
left-hander gave up five runs and seven hits in five innings of work.
Pedro Alvarez tripled and scored Pittsburgh's only run.
"(Gonzalez) spotted his fastball," Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said. "He
mixed speeds. He came after you. He's not going to hold anything back. I told
you he'd be hungry, wants to stay in the big leagues. We just weren't able to
answer."
Pittsburgh hopes to have an answer tonight for Houston righty Jordan Lyles.
Lyles notched his first victory in 10 starts when he beat the New York Mets on
Aug. 24, then did not factor into an 8-4 loss to the San Francisco Giants on
Thursday. The 21-year-old was charged with three runs on seven hits over five
innings, leaving him 3-10 on the season with a 5.46 ERA in 20 starts.
Lyles lost the first two starts of his career against the Pirates and did not
factor into his most recent encounter with them on July 27 despite allowing
four runs on seven hits and two homers over six innings. He did strike out
eight and holds a lifetime ERA of 8.04 in this series.
The Pirates have won nine of 12 versus the Astros this season, including six
of eight at home.
The Sports Network