Rookie Mike Burrows threw a career-high 5 1/3 innings as the host Pittsburgh Pirates shut out the Houston Astros 3-0 on Wednesday night.
A day after they were blanked for the 10th time this season, the Pirates returned the favor to record their seventh shutout win of the year. It was the fourth time the Astros were held scoreless this season, and it came after Houston recorded back-to-back shutout wins on Sunday and Tuesday.
Pittsburgh snapped a two-game skid as Burrows (1-1), Chase Shugart, Braxton Ashcraft and David Bednar combined on the shutout. Bednar gave up a one-out single to Yainer Diaz in the ninth, but he worked around it to record his seventh save.
Burrows allowed five hits and no walks while striking out six on 70 pitches.
Oneil Cruz and Spencer Horwitz each had two hits for the Pirates, who got their runs on a fielder’s-choice grounder, a sacrifice fly and a ground-ball double play.
Astros rookie starter Ryan Gusto (3-3) lasted 4 1/3 innings and permitted all three runs on eight hits and two walks while striking out three. He made 83 pitches.
Tommy Pham singled off Gusto to lead off the second inning, went to third on Endy Rodriguez’s double and scored on a groundout by Isiah Kiner-Falefa.
Cruz’s single sent Rodriguez to third, and Andrew McCutchen’s fly ball to left made it 2-0.
The Pirates added to the lead in the third. Spencer Horwitz and Ke’Bryan Hayes hit back-to-back singles to open the frame, and Horwitz scored when Adam Frazier grounded into a double play.
Jeremy Pena and Diaz each had two hits for Houston, which had won seven of its previous nine games.
Burrows recovered after Victor Caratini doubled with two outs in the second inning, retiring Jake Meyers on a groundout to end the inning.
After Pena doubled to lead off the sixth, Burrows retired Isaac Paredes, then was lifted in favor of Shugart, who proceeded to walk Jose Altuve. However, Shugart struck out Christian Walker and ended the frame on a groundout by Diaz.
The teams will play the decisive game of the three-game series on Thursday.
–Field Level Media
