The Houston Astros<\/a> fell to the Pittsburgh Pirates<\/a>, 10-6, on Tuesday night at Daikin Park after a four-run sixth inning erased an early Astros lead.<\/p>\n Yordan Alvarez<\/a> homered and Jeremy Pe\u00f1a<\/a> drove in two runs, but the Pirates rallied from an early deficit behind Oneil Cruz<\/a>‘s go-ahead three-run homer and a six-run sixth inning to take the series opener.<\/p>\n The Astros struck first in the bottom of the first inning. Jeremy Pe\u00f1a reached with a single before Yordan Alvarez launched a two-run homer to left-center field, giving the Astros a 2-0 advantage.<\/p>\n However, the Pirates responded in the second inning. Nick Gonzales<\/a> singled, and Endy Rodr\u00edguez<\/a> followed with a reviewed two-run home run to right-center field that tied the game at 2-2.<\/p>\n The Astros answered right back in the third. Pe\u00f1a reached on a fielding error, and Alvarez drew a walk. Christian Walker<\/a> scored Pe\u00f1a with a lined single to left, putting the Astros back in front, 3-2.<\/p>\n In the fourth, the Astros added another run. Brice Matthews<\/a> and Christian V\u00e1zquez<\/a> recorded consecutive singles before Pe\u00f1a brought Matthews home with an RBI force out, extending the lead to 4-2. The force out came on an unusual play, as Pe\u00f1a hit a sinking liner to left. Bryan Reynolds dove to attempt the catch. He came up with it, but the covering umpire correctly ruled it a short-hop. Matthews tagged up and ran home, scoring as if it were a sacrifice fly. Thinking Reynolds caught it, V\u00e1zquez remained on first, only to be forced out at second when the Pirates discovered that Reynolds did not make the catch.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, Mike Burrows<\/a> kept the Pirates in check through five innings. The right-hander allowed only two runs and helped the Astros maintain the advantage entering the sixth.<\/p>\n The game changed quickly in the top of the sixth. Ryan O’Hearn<\/a> opened the inning with a walk, and Gonzales followed with a single. Shortly after, Oneil Cruz crushed a three-run homer to center field, giving the Pirates a 5-4 lead.<\/p>\n The inning continued to unravel for the Astros. Rodr\u00edguez later walked and eventually scored on Jake Mangum<\/a>‘s RBI bunt single. As a result, the Pirates scored four runs in the frame and seized control of the game.<\/p>\n The Pirates added to their lead in the eighth inning when Brandon Lowe<\/a> connected on a three-run homer to right field. Rodr\u00edguez later delivered an RBI double in the ninth, pushing the advantage to 10-4.<\/p>\n The Astros attempted a comeback in the bottom of the ninth. Jake Meyers<\/a> doubled, Pe\u00f1a drove in a run with a single, and Alvarez followed with an RBI hit of his own. Nevertheless, Gregory Soto<\/a> retired the final two batters to secure the victory for the Pirates.<\/p>\n Yordan Alvarez provided the Astros’ biggest offensive moment with a two-run home run in the first inning and later added an RBI single during the ninth-inning rally.<\/p>\n Jeremy Pe\u00f1a reached base multiple times, scored twice, and drove in two runs. This helped the Astros build an early lead.<\/p>\n Mike Burrows worked through five innings and held the Pirates to two runs through the first five frames before the game shifted in the sixth inning.<\/p>\n The Pirates erased the Astros’ lead in the sixth inning, scoring four runs and taking control behind Oneil Cruz’s go-ahead three-run homer.<\/p>\n After Burrows exited, the Pirates added four more runs over the final three innings, including a three-run homer from Brandon Lowe in the eighth.<\/p>\n A throwing error by Isaac Paredes<\/a> helped extend the sixth inning and led to an additional Pirates run.<\/p>\n The Astros continue their three-game series against the Pirates on Wednesday night at Daikin Park. First pitch is scheduled for 7:10 p.m. Central.<\/p>\n The Astros will start right-hander Spencer Arrighetti<\/a>, who enters with a 7-1 record, 1.34 ERA, and 43 strikeouts. The Pirates will counter with right-hander Paul Skenes<\/a>, who carries a 6-5 record, 2.89 ERA, and 75 strikeouts.<\/p>\n The matchup features two of the league’s top young starting pitchers as the Astros look to even the series.<\/p>\nAstros \u2013 Pirates Game Summary<\/h3>\n
The Game Turns<\/h4>\n
What Went Right for the Astros<\/h3>\n
Alvarez Continued to Produce<\/h4>\n
Pe\u00f1a Sparked the Offense<\/h4>\n
Burrows Kept the Astros in Front Early<\/h4>\n
What Went Wrong for the Astros<\/h3>\n
Sixth-Inning Collapse<\/h4>\n
Bullpen Could Not Stop the Momentum<\/h4>\n
Defensive Mistakes Proved Costly<\/h4>\n
What’s Next<\/h3>\n
Main Picture:<\/span><\/h3>\n