Wandy Rodriguez allowed just five hits in throwing his second shutout of his career. The Pirates collected five singles and failed to advance a runner beyond second base. Rodriguez walked one and faced just four over the minimum as Houston executed a pair of double plays.
Houston hit Charlie Morton for a pair of runs in the third and three more in the fourth. Lance Berkman knocked in the final two runs with a double in the fourth. Morton left the game for a pinch hitter in the visitor’s half of the fifth. He gave up five earned runs on 10 hits in four innings.
Rodriguez struck out 11.
The Good
Andrew McCutchen tossed Miguel Tejada out at the plate in the third to prevent more damage.
The Bad
Um. The offense.
Freddy Sanchez was out with back issues again.
Morton got 12 outs and put 11 men on base (10 hits and a walk).
The Rest
Rodriguez’ 11 whiffs tied a career mark. He now has four wins against the Pirate for his career. That is the second most for him behind Cincinnati with five.
The Pirates have been shut out eight times in 2009 after having been shut out seven times in all of 2008.
In 2008 the Pirates were held to five hits or fewer 22 times and went 3-19 in those games. Thus far in 2009 the total of games being held to five hits or fewer is 17 with a record of 1-16 in them.
