PITTSBURGH -- After splitting the first two games of their interleague series, the Pittsburgh Pirates and Houston Astros will meet for the series finale Wednesday afternoon at PNC Park. Khalen Saunders Jersey .Pittsburghs quiet bats awoke in a dominant 7-1 win against Houston Tuesday, while the Astros (65-61) shut down the Pirates (63-60) in a 3-1 victory the night before. Something will have to give Wednesday, with each team attempting to gain ground in their respective wild-card races.The Pirates came out strong Tuesday, starting the game with six straight hits, and will hope to repeat that performance.I mentioned to our offensive coordinator Jeff Branson that I liked the way he scripted his first 20 plays, Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said. I think well stick with that. We came and hit balls where they were pitched and took advantage of a sinkerballer who wasnt getting the ball down.Pittsburgh will hope right-handed pitcher Gerrit Cole (7-8, 3.30) can regain some of the control hes lost in recent starts when he opposes right-hander Collin McHugh (7-10, 4.99).Pittsburgh has lost in each of Coles past three starts dating back to a 5-3 win against the Atlanta Braves on Aug. 2. The Pirates ace, who has allowed at least three earned runs in each of those three starts, had a solid outing against the Miami Marlins on Friday, but allowed two home runs that cut his night short at 6 2/3 innings pitched, his longest start since recording his first career complete game July 27.Coles inconsistency wont be the only issue Pittsburgh will look to overcome, however. The Pirates floundering offense will try to find a spark and could against McHugh, who allowed seven runs, six earned, in three innings against the Baltimore Orioles when he last started Friday.McHugh has not won since allowing two runs through six innings of a 7-2 win against the Los Angeles Angels on July 23. Since that victory, he has gone past six innings once and went three or less twice, including when he surrendered eight runs in 1 2/3 innings pitched against the Detroit Tigers on July 29.Things could turn around for McHugh on Wednesday, though, if the Pirates offense cant build on its momentum from Tuesday.Entering Tuesday,
PITTSBURGH -- After splitting the first two games of their interleague series, the Pittsburgh Pirates and Houston Astros will meet for the series finale Wednesday afternoon at PNC Park. Khalen Saunders Jersey .Pittsburghs quiet bats awoke in a dominant 7-1 win against Houston Tuesday, while the Astros (65-61) shut down the Pirates (63-60) in a 3-1 victory the night before. Something will have to give Wednesday, with each team attempting to gain ground in their respective wild-card races.The Pirates came out strong Tuesday, starting the game with six straight hits, and will hope to repeat that performance.I mentioned to our offensive coordinator Jeff Branson that I liked the way he scripted his first 20 plays, Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said. I think well stick with that. We came and hit balls where they were pitched and took advantage of a sinkerballer who wasnt getting the ball down.Pittsburgh will hope right-handed pitcher Gerrit Cole (7-8, 3.30) can regain some of the control hes lost in recent starts when he opposes right-hander Collin McHugh (7-10, 4.99).Pittsburgh has lost in each of Coles past three starts dating back to a 5-3 win against the Atlanta Braves on Aug. 2. The Pirates ace, who has allowed at least three earned runs in each of those three starts, had a solid outing against the Miami Marlins on Friday, but allowed two home runs that cut his night short at 6 2/3 innings pitched, his longest start since recording his first career complete game July 27.Coles inconsistency wont be the only issue Pittsburgh will look to overcome, however. The Pirates floundering offense will try to find a spark and could against McHugh, who allowed seven runs, six earned, in three innings against the Baltimore Orioles when he last started Friday.McHugh has not won since allowing two runs through six innings of a 7-2 win against the Los Angeles Angels on July 23. Since that victory, he has gone past six innings once and went three or less twice, including when he surrendered eight runs in 1 2/3 innings pitched against the Detroit Tigers on July 29.Things could turn around for McHugh on Wednesday, though, if the Pirates offense cant build on its momentum from Tuesday.Entering Tuesday,
