Brian Moehler pitched his first complete game in nearly nine years and the Pirates fell to the Astros, 6-1, on Friday night at PNC Park
Rookie Edwin Maysonet went 4 for 4 with four RBI, as the Astros, mired in a slump that reportedly had manager Cecil Cooper’s job in jeopardy, amassed 15 hits against four Pirates pitchers.
The Pirates didn’t score until Jason Jaramillo’s RBI-groundout in the ninth inning off Moehler, who struck out four and walked one while throwing a season-high 123 pitches.
Freddy Sanchez and Andy LaRoche each had two hits and Ross Ohlendorf (5-5) took the loss for the Pirates, who were starting a streak of 16 games in 16 days.
The Pirates never had a chance to call on closer Matt Capps, who was cleared to pitch five days after being struck in the right elbow with a line-drive at Wrigley Field.
By John Grupp
