For the tenth time this season, the Pirates were shut out, this time by an Astros pitcher who looked like his old self after having elbow surgery two years ago. Joe Block has the disappointing result.
Manager Donnie Kelly says Lance McCullers kept the Pirates hitters off-balance.
Paul Skenes says Christian Walker put a good swing on his home run in the seventh.
Nick Gonzalez returned to the Pirates lineup for the first time since fracturing his ankle in the first game of the season, and was 1-for-3. Nick Solak was returned to Indianapolis to make room for Gonzalez. The Pirates also recalled pitcher Kyle Nicolas and he got the last two outs of the ninth inning after Dennis Santana gave up a two-run homer earlier in the inning.
ALTOONA CURVE
Altoona opened its six-game series in New Hampshire with a 4-0 shutout loss to the Fisher Cats. The Curve had five hits, all singles, with Mitch Jebb and Nick Cimillo each having two.
The Curve have not named their starter for tonight’s second game of the series.
