Cole Allows 5 Runs In 5 Innings In Pirates 5-4 Loss To Astros
PITTSBURGH (AP) - Evan Gattis hit his 20th home run and Carlos Correa got two hits and scored twice, leading Collin McHugh and the Houston Astros over the Pittsburgh Pirates 5-4 Wednesday.
The Astros won the interleague matchup between wild-card contenders for their fifth victory in six games. Pittsburgh has lost five of six.
McHugh (8-10) gave up three runs in five innings, ending an 0-4 rut in his last five starts. Ken Giles closed for his fifth save.
Gerrit Cole (7-9) allowed five runs in five innings. He has a 6.07 ERA through five August starts.
Gattis homered in the second, connecting after a single by Correa.
Correa reached on an infield single in the fourth and scored on a triple by Marwin Gonzalez.
George Springer singled to begin the fifth and Alex Bregman followed with a double, setting up sacrifice flies by Jose Altuve and Correa for a 5-1 lead.
Jordy Mercer homered in the Pittsburgh third.
The Pirates closed to 5-3 in the fifth on RBI singles by Starling Marte and Gregory Polanco.
Polanco tripled home Marte in the seventh.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Astros: Correa at shortstop a day after making an early exit because of an illness. Manager A.J. Hinch said roughly half of the Astros' roster is currently sick.
UP NEXT
Astros: Following a day off, Houston will begin a three-game series at home against Tampa Bay on Friday. After allowing one run through seven innings in his last outing, RHP Mike Fiers (9-6, 4.48) will try to repeat that performance against Tampa Bay.
Pirates: Will travel to Milwaukee for the start of a four-game series against the Brewers on Thursday. RHP Chad Kuhl (3-1, 3.62) will look to bounce back from his first major league loss.
