HOUSTON -- Craig Biggio had another big game, but the
night belonged to a rookie.
Taylor Buchholz pitched 8 2/3 dominant innings and Biggio scored
all three runs as the Houston Astros posted a 3-0 victory over
the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Acquired in the deal that sent Billy Wagner to Philadelphia in
November 2003, Buchholz has had a history of elbow and shoulder
problems during his minor league career. He missed most of the
second half of last season at Class AAA Round Rock with a sore
shoulder after going 6-0 with a 4.81 ERA, but he appears to have
put those troubles behind him.
"This is the best I've ever felt," Buchholz said. "I feel
completely healthy, and I'm not tentative at all out there. I
threw well today, and the defense was behind me. They really
made some great plays."
The 24-year-old yielded just two hits and a hit batter while
striking out five. He threw 75 of 104 pitches for strikes and
had just two three-ball counts in his second career start and
first major league win.
"I felt good the entire time I was out there," Buchholz said.
"Sometimes I'm a little too amped up, but I felt relaxed today.
"In the eighth and ninth innings, when the whole crowd was
screaming, I really felt the chills come over me."
Buchholz retired the first nine batters and did not allow a hit
until Jeromy Burnitz led off the fifth with a single. The
righthander set down the next 14 he faced before Chris Duffy
reached on an error by second baseman Eric Bruntlett with two
outs in the ninth and Jack Wilson singled to right.
Houston manager Phil Garner went to Brad Lidge, who struck out
Jason Bay for his seventh save and the Astros' fourth shutout of
the season.
"Taylor threw fantastic, and I was going to leave everything I
had out there," Lidge said. "Bay has hurt me in the past, and I
wanted go out there and locate right away."
Bay was 4-for-8 with two homers against Lidge prior to the
at-bat.
Buchholz was one of the first Astros on the field after Lidge
retired Bay in helping celebrate the shutout.
"I definitely agreed with Phil taking me out," Buchholz said.
"My pitch count was up, and you've got Brad Lidge coming in. I
definitely think it was the right move to take me out."
Bruntlett was obviously disappointed his error cost Buchholz a
complete game one-hitter.
"I just couldn't get it out of my glove," Bruntlett said. "I
just feel bad for Taylor because he threw an incredible game. I
was never worried that we weren't going to win, but I was
really upset I cost him a one-hitter."
Biggio singled and scored in the first against Pittsburgh
starter Ian Snell, doubled and scored in the fifth and belted
his second home run in the seventh for a 3-0 lead. The 19-year
veteran has 13 hits in his last five games.
"It's nice to be in this groove," Biggio said. "I've made some
adjustments with my hands. Who knows why things work? This is
baseball."
Morgan Ensberg, who set the franchise record by homering in his
sixth straight game in the first inning of Houston's 3-2 triumph
in the first game of the series, didn't extend the record but
plated Biggio in the first with a single to center field.
Houston's 12-5 start equals the best start in franchise history,
something it has accomplished four times. Its franchise record
is now 3,509-3,508, the first time it has been above .500 since
April 25, 1962 - 11 games into its first season.
Snell (0-2), who had not pitched more than five innings nor
surrendered fewer than four runs in any of his first three
outings, had his best start for the Pirates. The 24-year-old
righthander allowed two runs and six hits in six innings with
two walks and four strikeouts.
"I was pretty mad today," Snell said. "I was thinking after
talking to my dad last night. He said 'Get the chip back on
your shoulder. You're the small kid on the block and you have
to teach everybody a lesson.'
"It was a big game for me just to show myself I can be here,
pitch to big league hitters, get them out, and throw my fastball
and other pitches."