The Pirates had 10 players with at last one hit, and Adam LaRoche reached base four times, scored twice and drove in a run. Jason Bay went 2-for-3 with two walks and two runs, and Xavier Nady had two hits and two RBI for Pittsburgh, which scored more runs during the first three innings Monday than it did in being swept in three games at Milwaukee over the weekend.
Carlos Lee hit his 20th home run of the season and had three RBI for the Astros, who have lost six of seven and fell back into last place in the National League Central.
The Houston pitching staff was depleted after a 17-inning loss Sunday at Atlanta, forcing the Astros to ride Runelvys Hernandez (0-3) through four innings in which he allowed 10 runs, 13 hits and four walks.
Making his season debut after having his contract purchased after the marathon game Sunday, Chad Paronto pitched the final four innings, allowing only a hit and a walk.
Pittsburgh’s pitching staff has had its own problems with injuries and ineffectiveness in recent weeks. Lefty Phil Dumatrait was ineffective in his first start since a stint on the disabled list with bursitis in his throwing shoulder.
He allowed a season-high seven runs, nine hits and two walks in 3 1/3 innings, his shortest start of the season.
But the Pirates’ bullpen was good for 5 2/3 shutout innings, highlighted by Denny Bautista, (2-1), who worked 2 2-/ innings. Tyler Yates struck out four in two perfect innings, and Damaso Marte pitched the ninth for his second save, walking Mark Loretta with two outs to ruin a streak of 16 Astros in a row retired by the Pittsburgh bullpen.
McLouth’s home run, his 16th of the season, went high over the right-field stands in the second. Doumit’s shot, his 11th, scored Luis Rivas and gave the Pirates the lead for good in the fourth.
Dumatrait had an RBI single in the first and Bautista had one in the fourth.
