HOUSTON (SportsRadio 610)- In his second game back from the left hamstring strain that kept him out of the lineup for a month, George Springer collected three hits, including a home run, but the Astros came up short against the Pittsburgh Pirates, 14-2 Wednesday night at Minute Maid Park.
Springer, who had one hit in his return Tuesday night, answered Josh Bell's first inning two-run homer by leading off the bottom of the inning with his 18th homer of the season. He singled in the third and fifth innings, but the rest of the Astros struggled at the plate, and the Pirates took advantage.
Against Framber Valdez, Pittsburgh added to its lead when Elias Diaz and Corey Dickerson doubled to start the second inning. Then, with two out, Kevin Newman singled home Dickerson to make it a 4-1 game. Dickerson struck again in the third when with two out, he drove home Bell and Jose Osuna with a single.
Valdez was tagged with his fourth loss of the season after allowing six runs in three innings. Chris Devenski held the Pirates off the board in the fourth and fifth innings, but they got to him in the sixth. Jung Ho Kang followed Dickerson's leadoff double with his sixth home run, making it 8-1.
All of that offense was in support of Dario Agrazal who didn't allow another run after Springer's homer. He tossed six innings and earned the first win of his career.
Dickerson finished 4-for-4 with three doubles, three runs scored, and three RBI. Newman also had four hits, including his third home run, while Kang added a pair, as did Osuna, who hit a 2-run homer off Tyler White in the ninth.
Springer was the only Astros to finish with more than one hit. Yordan Alvarez did drive home a run on a ground out in the eighth.
The Astros will send Brad Peacock to the mound in Thursday's series finale opposite former Astro Joe Musgrove.
