Errors kill Bucs shot at a sweep
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The Associated Press
HOUSTON -- Mauricio Dubon hit a two-run homer, Framber Valdez struck out 10 in six innings and the Houston Astros came from behind to beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 5-4 on Wednesday night.
Dubon came in to pinch hit in the sixth inning with the Astros trailing 4-3. He hit a 97 mph sinker from reliever Colin Holderman (3-2) off the signage above the left field seats to give Houston the lead. It was Dubon's first career pinch-hit homer and helped Houston snap a three-game losing streak.
Valdez (10-5) settled in after the second inning and gave up four runs on six hits in six innings for his fifth win in his last seven starts. Josh Hader pitched the ninth for his 21st save.
The Pirates led 4-0 but three errors by shortstop Oneil Cruz allowed three runs to score for Houston in the second and third innings. Jeremy Pena scored on a wild pitch after reaching on Cruz's throwing error in the second.
A fielding and throwing error allowed Chas McCormick to score from first in the third inning and Yordan Alvarez to reach third. He scored on a single from Yainer Diaz.
Pirates starter Jake Woodford gave up three runs, none earned, on two hits and struck out three in five innings.
Pittsburgh scored all its runs in the second inning, two on Joey Bart's homer onto the train tracks in left field.
Pirates hitting coach Andy Haines was ejected in the first inning after arguing a strike call on Andrew McCutchen by home plate umpire Nestor Ceja.
Bryan De La Cruz started in right field for the Pirates and went 2 for 4 after being acquired in a trade from the Miami Marlins on Tuesday.
No. 1 is here
The Pirates announced Wednesday the club signed shortstop Konnor Griffin, who was selected with the ninth overall pick in first round of the 2024 MLB Draft.
The 18-year-old Griffin, who was the first high school player selected in this year's draft, was named Baseball America's High School Player of the Year in 2024. Griffin was rated by both MLB Pipeline and Baseball America as the No. 9 prospect in this year's draft.
Coming into the draft, Baseball America rated Griffin as the "Best Athlete", second in "Best Power" and "Best Defensive Outfielder" and fourth in "Best Speed" among this year's high school draft class.
During his senior year at Jackson Preparatory School in Flowood, Mississippi, Griffin hit .559 with 13 doubles, four triples, nine home runs, 39 RBI, 85 stolen bases, .690 OBP and .966 slugging percentage in 43 games. Griffin also went 10-0 with an 0.72 ERA and 107 strikeouts in 67.2 innings of work as a pitcher during his senior season.
Griffin was also named Gatorade's National Player of the Year as well as the MaxPreps Player of the Year in 2024.
He was also rated by Perfect Game as the No. 2 overall high school prospect as well as the No. 1 prospect in the state of Mississippi.
Other signings included Jacob Bimbi, a southpaw pitcher out of Western Kentucky University in the 11th round, who recorded 71 strikeouts in 54 innings in his senior season, and Andrew Patrick, a center fielder out of Wright State in the 17th round. This past season, he batted .326 with 21 doubles, 20 home runs, 72 runs scored and 59 RBIs.
The Pirates have now signed 19 of their 21 players from this year's draft.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Pirates: OF Joshua Palacios (left hamstring strain) was placed on the 10-day injured list after leaving Monday's game. De La Cruz took his spot on the roster.
Up next
Pirates: RHP Luis Ortiz (5-2, 2.75 ERA) will face RHP Brandon Pfaadt (5-6, 3.92 ERA) when Pittsburgh opens a three-game series against Arizona at home on Friday. The Pirates just took two of three from Arizona last weekend.
Astros: LHP Yusei Kikuchi (4-9, 4.75 ERA) will make his Houston debut on Friday in the series opener against the Tampa Bay Rays, who will start RHP Shane Baz (0-1, 3.66 ERA).
The opponent
Zac Gallen won his third straight start, Ryan Thompson got out of a one-out, bases-loaded jam in the ninth inning, and the Diamondbacks earned a three-game sweep by beating Washington, 5-4. Arizona has won five straight series, but this was the Diamondbacks' first sweep in that stretch. Washington took an 8-2 lead in the series opener Monday before Arizona rallied to win 9-8 and outscored the Nats 29-3 over the rest of the series. The Nationals have lost four straight and seven of nine.