Three errors from Oneil Cruz lead to frustrating loss for Pirates in series finale against Astros

HOUSTON — Early on, it was fair to assume Derek Shelton’s team was on its way to a sweep in the Lone Star State Wednesday evening. A four-run top of the second built a sizable cushion for Pirates starter Jake Woodford, who looked to be well in control on the mound.

But rather than maintaining their advantage, the Pirates went out of their way to allow the Astros to battle their way back.

Three errors in two innings from Oneil Cruz allowed Houston to cut Pittsburgh’s once sizable lead to a one run. Then, with the momentum completely shifted, Mauricio Dubon put the Astros ahead in the bottom of the sixth with a pinch-hit, two-run homer, ultimately setting up a 5-4 loss for Shelton’s club at Minute Maid park.

Houston’s comeback began in the bottom of the second, when Jeremy Pena reached on Cruz’s first error of the evening. Pena went on to score off a wild pitch that came during an 0-2 count with two outs.

Cruz would provide further damage to his own club in the following frame. With a runner on first and two outs, Yordan Alvarez sent a fly ball to shallow left field near the foul line. Cruz and Pirates left fielder Bryan Reynolds both raced to snag the ball, which would have ended the inning. But rather than either Pirate making the catch, the two collided, allowing the ball to drop to the grass.

Chas McCormick hustled around first base to score on the play. To make matters worse, Cruz’s throw home missed catcher Joey Bart, allowing Alvarez to advance to third. Yainer Diaz doubled home Alvarez the next at-bat.

Dubon’s homer would come three innings later after Shelton replaced left-hander Jalen Beeks on the mound with right-hander Colin Holderman. Holderman’s first pitch upon entry was tagged hard by Dubon, sailing well over the left-field wall to give Houston its first lead of the game.

On the mound

In his first outing as a Pirate, Woodford did more than enough to put his club in a position to win. Matched up against one of the more dangerous lineups in baseball, Woodford showed little struggle, delivering five strong innings of work. All three of Woodford’s runs allowed were unearned. He struck out three batters, allowed a pair of hits and issued no walks.

At the plate

Bart put the Pirates on the board with a two-run homer off Astros starter Framber Valdez, the game’s winning pitcher. The blast scored himself and recently acquired outfielder Bryan De La Cruz, who tallied a pair of hits in his Pirates debut.

Jared Triolo was next to strike for the Pirates, smashing a double that brought home Ke’Bryan Hayes for the Pirates’ third run. Andrew McCutchen then singled to score Triolo to give Pittsburgh a 4-0 advantage.

While the second inning was a success, the Pirates’ bats went quiet afterward. Valdez settled in, finishing with 10 strikeouts over six innings. The Astros bullpen keep the ball rolling, throwing three scoreless frames to secure the victory. Josh Hader, Monday’s losing pitcher, finished the job, recording his 21st save of the season.