May 12, 2012 10:29 pm
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By Bill Brink  / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Following the protocol they established in the previous two games, the Pirates loaded the bases in the sixth inning Saturday night.
They had this opportunity in the sixth inning Thursday, but Garrett Jones struck out. They gave it another go Friday, this time with no outs, but the top of the order stranded the runners.
Saturday, the Pirates earned dividends from the situation. Two runs in the sixth contributed to their 5-2 win against the Houston Astros at PNC Park.
They also displayed some power: Andrew McCutchen and Jose Tabata hit home runs.
McCutchen went 4 for 4 for the second time in four games. He is now batting .342.
The outing provided support to Charlie Morton, who delivered a solid start. He pitched six innings, allowing two runs, one earned, on seven hits and producing 13 ground-ball outs.
Morton's sinker came in slightly slower than in the past -- around 90 miles per hour instead of 92-93 -- but had great action and stayed down in the zone.
The memory of the previous night's adventures must have stuck with the Pirates, because they pushed the first batter of the game across the plate Saturday. Tabata tripled to right-center field after falling into an 0-2 count to lead off the first.
Tabata led off the fourth inning Friday with a triple as well, but the batters behind him stranded him there. Saturday, Neil Walker's sacrifice fly scored him and gave the Pirates an early 1-0 lead.
A single, a walk and two stolen bases put men on second and third before Yamaico Navarro struck out to end the first, but the Pirates forced Astros starter J.A. Happ to throw 29 pitches in the inning.
McCutchen did not hit a home run until May 8, but after leaving the yard Saturday, he has three in the past five games. He took a 1-2 outside fastball from Happ and lined it hard into the seats in right-center field, giving the Pirates a 2-0 lead.
First Published May 12, 2012 10:23 pm
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