Corporan: Keeps Astros within one
(c) Associated Press
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Lucas Harrell picked a bad day to pitch a good game. Harrell allowed just one run and four hits over seven innings on Sunday but one of those hits was a solo homer from Pedro Alvarez in the fifth and that was enough for Pittsburgh to take a 1-0 victory in their throwback uniforms and seal a 2-1 edge in the NL throwback series with the Astros.
Harrell even got into the spirit with one of the three Houston hits but Jeff Locke and two relievers silenced Houston's other hitters all afternoon. Harmless singles by Carlos Corporan and Chris Carter were the only other dents in Locke's afternoon. Ex-Astro Mark Melancon and Jason Grilli nailed down the final two frames to complete the shutout.
The only other serious scoring threat was in the sixth when Travis Snider was nailed at the plate by Brandon Barnes on a great throw from center. Some wonder why Barnes (.317 batting average) isn't getting more playing time and Jeff Luhnow recently commented that Barnes will have to wait while other outfielders are evaluated. Um, okay.
Meanwhile, the drudgery of American League baseball returns Monday night when the Kansas City Royals invade Minute Maid for a 7:10 Central duel with the 12-32 Astros. With Bud Norris still on the mend, Dallas Keuchel (0-1) steps in to make his third start of the year while the Royals counter with Jeremy Guthrie (5-1).
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