The evolution of Charlie Morton continued Saturday, as he pitched 7.2 strong innings, allowing only one run. Morton also posted peripherals to back those numbers up, striking out five batters and walking only one. Morton kept the ball down, as he typically has this season, but he also threw strikes.
The Bucs got a solo homer from Lyle Overbay in the second and a two-run double to the wall in left-center by Andrew McCutchen later that inning. In the eighth, Carlos Lee had an RBI single to narrow the Pirates' lead to 3-1. In the bottom of the inning, though, a couple of walks by Astros reliever Jose Valdez led to a two-run double by Brandon Wood, who barely hit the chalk on the foul line in left. Chris Snyder then scored on a wild pitch. Daniel McCutchen then pitched a scoreless ninth for the victory.
There's still the fact that Bud Norris struck out nine guys, but at this point, that might say as much about Bud Norris, who appears to be maturing into a very good starting pitcher, as it says about the Pirates. Great game, overall.