Category: Sports

Pens extend Coach Mike Sullivan’s contract.

Penguins sign coach Mike Sullivan to 4-year extension
By WILL GRAVES AP Sports Writer
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Mike Sullivan is sticking around to see if he can get the Pittsburgh Penguins back to the Stanley Cup.
The coach whose arrival in the winter of 2015 helped propel the Penguins to championships in 2016 and 2017 agreed to a four-contract extension on Friday that runs through the 2023-24 season. The terms of the new deal will kick in when Sullivan’s current contract expires at the end of the upcoming season.
Sullivan was entering the final year of a three-year contract he signed in December 2016. The extension provides the fiery 51-year-old a sense of relief and also plenty of time to help Pittsburgh retool after getting swept by the New York Islanders in the first round of the 2019 playoffs. Sullivan said he “never really considered” testing free agency next summer.
“I just knew I wanted to be the coach of the Pittsburgh Penguins,” said Sullivan, who is 174-92-34 with Pittsburgh.
The extension is a lucrative vote of confidence from Pittsburgh general manager Jim Rutherford, who expressed concern about the need for a culture change inside the dressing room after the Penguins slogged through much of 2018-19 before the earliest playoff exit of the Sidney Crosby era. Rutherford made it a point to place the onus for making the change on the players and not the man who became the first head coach in 60 years to win Cups during each of his first two years on the job.
“Mike has done a great job delivering four, 100-plus point seasons with our team,” Rutherford said in a statement. “To win back-to-back Stanley Cups in this era speaks volumes of him as a coach.”
Sullivan clashed at times with prolific but temperamental forward Phil Kessel, whom the Penguins traded to Arizona last week for Alex Galchenyuk, among others. Pittsburgh also sent defenseman Olli Maatta to Chicago and signed versatile forward Brandon Tanev to a six-year deal on the opening day of free agency earlier this week.
“We’re certainly a faster team,” Sullivan said. “I think we’re harder to play against. I think the enthusiasm and the energy that these guys have already shown with the opportunity that’s already in front of us, in particular they’re circumstances in coming to the Pittsburgh Penguins and being part of this team, I believe that energy and enthusiasm is contagious and I think that alone I think is going to benefit all of us when we go back to training camp.”
Sullivan has preached about “playing the right way” from the day he took over for Mike Johnston in December 2015, a pet phrase that helped the Penguins create an identity focused on speed and solid defensive play. Though Crosby remains a perennial Hart Trophy candidate and Pittsburgh is still one of the most potent offensive teams in the league, the Penguins have slid defensively since raising the Cup for the fifth time in franchise history in 2017.
Rutherford hinted during Pittsburgh’s season-ending news conference that the front office had no problem with Sullivan’s methods.
“Mike has proven he is a tremendous leader for our team,” Penguins President and CEO David Morehouse said. “Our trust in him as a coach has continued to grow since winning back-to-back Stanley Cups in his first two years. Mike has a championship mindset and he is the right guy for our team, the organization and the city of Pittsburgh.”
Sullivan is the third-winningest coach in Penguins’ history, trailing only Dan Bylsma and Eddie Johnston. He is 9-2 in playoff series and his 38 postseason wins rank second behind Bylsma. Yet the glow from the championship parades has faded, and Sullivan is eager to begin the process of getting the Penguins back to the top now that his job status is secure well into the next decade.
“I’m excited about the group of players we have,” Sullivan said. “I believe we’ve got a group here that has the potential to be a very competitive hockey team. And now the challenge is for all of us, to come together and bring that to fruition. But we certainly like the group that we have.”
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Bucs come up short on comeback bid and fall 7-6 to Brewers in 10 innings.

Brewers blow big lead, recover to edge Pirates 7-6 in 10
By WILL GRAVES AP Sports Writer
PITTSBURGH (AP) — A seemingly safe five-run ninth-inning lead gone in a flash, the Milwaukee Brewers were badly in need of a pickup.
Facing one of the best closers in the majors, Orlando Arcia provided one.
The shortstop’s sharp single off Pittsburgh’s Felipe Vázquez in the top of the 10th inning started a rally that ended with Lorenzo Cain’s go-ahead RBI single to put the Brewers ahead for good as Milwaukee ended a three-game losing streak to move in front of idle Chicago for first-place in the airtight NL Central.
“I think it’s one of those things where you have to do something good to change around the feeling,” Brewers manager Craig Counsell said.
Good feelings were in short supply in the Milwaukee dugout after the Pirates erased a five-run deficit in the ninth.
Starling Marte’s sacrifice fly scored Melky Cabrera and got the Pirates going. All-Star first baseman Josh Bell followed two batters later with a three-run shot to the right-field seats off Delios Guerra to get Pittsburgh within one. Milwaukee reliever Junior Guerra came on in an attempt to get the final out. His first pitch to Jung Ho Kang ended up in the left-field bleachers to tie the game.
“That pitch to Kang was kind of in the middle,” Junior Guerra said. “I expect that he’s not going to swing on the first pitch. That’s why I don’t throw fastball.”
The Brewers, however, bounced back against Vázquez (2-1). Arcia singled with one out, moved to third on Manny Piña’s single and scored when Cain’s sharp grounder got through the hole between first and second base.
“A lot of things happened,” Cain said. “We had the lead there in the end. They ended up coming back. At the end of the day, we find a way to come back and win. We definitely needed that. It was a big boost for the boys.”
Arcia finished 2 for 4, including his 12th home run of the season. Piña and Jesus Aguilar both hit two-run shots during Milwaukee’s four-run eighth that gave the Brewers a five-run lead the bullpen squandered.
Junior Guerra (3-1) picked up the win after blowing the save when he struck out pinch-hitter Joe Musgrove — a starting pitcher by trade — with two on in the bottom of the 10th.
“It felt like the Twilight Zone in a lot of ways,” Counsell said.
Aguilar took advantage of just his second start since mid-June to hit his sixth homer of the season and drive in three runs. Counsell re-inserted Aguilar into the starting lineup in hopes of giving the offense a jolt after the Brewers were shut out on consecutive days by Cincinnati.
The first baseman responded by ending Milwaukee’s 26-inning scoreless drought with an RBI single in the fourth off Pirates starter Steven Brault then provided some insurance with a two-run shot to the bleachers in left field in the eighth.
The Brewers arrived in Pittsburgh coming off a listless series in Cincinnati in which they dropped three of four as the gap between first and fifth in the tight Central shrank to 3 1/2 games. Counsell took Yasmani Grandal out of the leadoff spot, dropped Mike Moustakas from third to cleanup and gave Aguilar — an All-Star in 2018 — a start in place of Eric Thames.
Aguilar came in hitting .203 on the season, but collected just his second multiple-hit game since May 12. He ripped a single to right field with two outs in the fourth to give the Brewers their first run since the sixth inning of an 11-inning loss to Cincinnati on Tuesday.
The Brewers appeared to be in good shape after Josh Hader wiggled out of a bases-loaded jam in the seventh and a four-run eighth pushed Milwaukee’s lead to five.
RESILIENT PIRATES
Bell, who will compete in the Home Run Derby on Monday night in Cleveland, now has 27 home runs on the season and five in his last five games. Adam Frazier finished with three hits and is batting .619 (13 of 21) in July. Pittsburgh has dropped two straight following a stretch in which it went 12-5 to get back into the NL Central race. Despite the loss, Bell believes Pittsburgh’s comeback will pay off going forward.
“I think it sends a message to them it doesn’t matter what the score is,” Bell said. “We’re right there knocking on the door.”
BRAULT INJURED
Brault exited after walking Arcia leading off the fifth with discomfort in his left (throwing) shoulder. Brault, coming off a June in which he posted a 2.52 ERA after injuries forced him to join Pittsburgh’s starting rotation full-time, allowed one run on two hits with two walks and four strikeouts.
“It was just tight after every inning,” Brault said. “And in that fifth inning I wasn’t able to get to the point where I needed to be. It was obvious seeing my velocity drop.”
TRAINER’S ROOM
Brewers: LF Ryan Braun’s sore right knee is catching up with him. The 35-year-old said he initially hurt the knee during the 2018 playoffs and irritated the injury while making a sliding catch in Cincinnati on Tuesday. The 2011 National League MVP didn’t start on Friday but did leg out a double to center as a pinch hitter in the seventh.
Pirates: C Francisco Cervelli (concussion) is open to switching positions in an effort to help the team. Cervelli hasn’t played since taking a broken bat to the chin against the Los Angeles Dodgers on May 25.
UP NEXT
Brewers: Adrian Houser (2-2, 3.26 ERA) is 0-2 with a 7.62 ERA while working as an “opener” this season. Houser pitches a season-high five innings against Cincinnati on Monday.
Pirates: Dario Agrazal (1-0, 2.70) will make his third major-league start on Saturday in place of Trevor Williams, who was placed on the paternity list Friday evening.
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Ex-Clemson tailback Tyshon Dye dies after drowning at lake

Ex-Clemson tailback Tyshon Dye dies after drowning at lake
CLEMSON, S.C. (AP) — Former Clemson and East Carolina running back Tyshon Dye drowned Friday after swimming in a lake during a family outing.
Dye was 25 years old.
Elbert County Corner Chuck Almond told several media outlets Dye was at Richard B. Russell State Park in Georgia when he tired in the water and could not make it to shore. The coroner’s office ruled Dye’s death accidental.
Dye played at Elbert County Comprehensive High School before coming to Clemson. He was a reserve on the Tigers’ 2016 national championship team then transferred to East Carolina for his final college season.
Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said everyone with the Tigers was heartbroken over Dye’s death. Swinney called his former player one of the “sweetest souls” he’d ever known and was praying for Dye’s family.
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Ross Chastain leads Daytona sweep for Kaulig Racing

Ross Chastain leads Daytona sweep for Kaulig Racing
By JENNA FRYER AP Auto Racing Writer
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Ross Chastain led a sweep for Kaulig Racing in the rain-delayed Xfinity Series race at Daytona International Speedway on Friday night.
Matt Kaulig entered the event determined to field enough Chevrolets to give his team a chance to win. It included a last-minute entry for current NBC analyst AJ Allmendinger, and Allmendinger pulled out of line on the final lap to nab third place and complete the Kaulig sweep.
Justin Haley was second as the three Kaulig drivers lined their Chevrolets up side-by-side-side for a victorious celebratory lap.
“I can’t wait to get to victory lane. I’ve never even been to it,” Kaulig said.
The monumental moment for the Kaulig team didn’t last to the post-race party. Allmendinger’s car was later disqualified for an engine violation and he lost the third-place finish.
Chastain, meanwhile, celebrated by carrying a watermelon to Daytona’s start-finish line and smashing on the pavement. He comes from a family of Florida watermelon farmers and has made smashing the fruit his signature move.
“Oh my God!” Chastain screamed. “I came to these races and sat in the stands and watched as a fan as a kid. I just won at Daytona!”
Chastain last month won the truck series race in Iowa, but the victory was stripped because his winning truck failed post-race inspection. Chastain’s disqualification was the first of its kind under NASCAR’s new zero-tolerance policy regarding failed inspections.
The rule is designed to curb cheating, which is prevalent in NASCAR as teams manipulate the rulebook through research, development and gimmicks. But Chastain’s team argued the failure was related to race damage, a claim that was denied during his appeal.
The race was delayed 2 hours, 35 minutes after NASCAR had already moved the start up roughly 15 minutes. The skies opened an hour before the scheduled start, putting all activity on hold.
Earlier Friday, qualifying for the Cup race was canceled because lightning in the area around the track made it impossible for NASCAR to inspect the race cars. The field for Saturday night’s race was set on points.
Defending Xfinity Series champion Tyler Reddick won the pole for the Xfinity race.
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Brendan McKay Makes 2nd Major League Start Against Yankees Tonight

(Matt Drzik/Beaver County Radio)

Once you do it good once, they can hope you can do it over and over again.

This is the situation facing Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Brendan McKay as he takes the mound tonight against the New York Yankees at Tropicana Field. The Blackhawk graduate shined in his first MLB start on Saturday (June 29), pitching six innings of one-hit ball against the Texas Rangers. McKay threw three strikeouts in Tampa’s 5-2 victory.

McKay’s presence could help the Rays at a time when it’s most needed. Tampa Bay comes into tonight 7 1/2 games behind the first-place Yankees, having dropped Game 1 of the series 8-4 in 10 innings on Thursday. The Rays lead the AL Wild Card race by 1 game over Cleveland and 2 games over Oakland.

While this is McKay’s 2nd game as a starting pitcher, it is his 3rd game overall. He was the Rays’ designated hitter on Tuesday, going 0-for-4 in Tampa Bay’s 6-3 victory over Baltimore.

Tonight’s Rays/Yankees game will have a first pitch of 7:10.

Frazier stays hot, leads Pirates by listless Cubs 5-1

Frazier stays hot, leads Pirates by listless Cubs 5-1
By WILL GRAVES AP Sports Writer
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Pittsburgh Pirates manager Clint Hurdle didn’t need to check the analytics before writing down Adam Frazier’s name in the leadoff spot before Tuesday’s game against the Chicago Cubs.
Watching Frazier tie a major league record by roping four doubles the night before gave Hurdle all the evidence he needed to know his second baseman was in a good place, one he seems intent on staying in indefinitely.
Frazier backed up his big night by going 4 for 4 — including a three-run shot off Mike Montgomery shortly after a long rain delay — and scored three runs to lead the Pirates to a 5-1 victory.
Frazier spent the first two months of the season in the leadoff spot before ceding it to rookie Kevin Newman, a move necessitated by a power dip, one that Frazier is intent on putting in the rearview mirror.
When Frazier ripped a single leading off the seventh, it gave him a hit in seven straight at-bats, becoming the first Pirate to reach that milestone since Freddy Sanchez did it on May 25-26, 2009. Frazier is 9 for 10 — with five doubles and a homer — through the first two games of a crucial homestand for Pittsburgh, which is trying to stay in the NL Central race.
“I feel comfortable right now hitting,” Frazier said. “(Hitting coach) Rick (Eckstein) and I have been working the past few days. I feel like I’m on to something so. If it’s leadoff or whatever, it doesn’t matter. It’s just you and the pitcher. Go hit.”
Starling Marte had two hits for the Pirates and Josh Bell picked up his major-league leading 78th RBI on a sacrifice fly as Pittsburgh backed up an 18-run outburst against Chicago to pull within two games of .500 (41-43) for the first time since June 2.
Frazier led off the bottom of the first with a single off Kyle Hendricks (7-6), doubled off Hendricks again in the third, then took Montgomery into the seats above the Clemente Wall in right field shortly after a two-hour, five-minute rain delay to give Pittsburgh a five-run lead it never came close to squandering while winning for the ninth time in 13 games.
“Talking about a shot in the arm to start off the series the last two nights, what is he now, 9 for 10? Crazy,” Hurdle said. “Really good. Special.”
The Cubs managed just six hits against starter Joe Musgrove and five relievers and didn’t get a runner past first base until a two-out double by Addison Russell in the eighth. Willson Contreras hit an RBI double in the ninth against Pittsburgh closer Felipe Vazquez to avoid the shutout.
Chicago has dropped three straight and four of five to remain a game behind first-place Milwaukee in the Central, where all five teams are separated by 5 ½ games.
“We’re obviously not playing the kind of baseball we want right now,” Hendricks said. “I think it starts with making some better pitches. We’re just not making the big pitch when we need to and getting behind early.”
Hendricks, making his first start since going on the injured list on June 15 with right shoulder inflammation, ran into early trouble. Frazier laced the third pitch he saw from Hendricks into center field. Marte followed two batters later with a single of his own and Bell’s drive to right field easily scored Frazier to put the Pirates up. Pittsburgh pushed the lead to 2-0 in the third when Frazier led off with a double and scored when Marte doubled to right.
Hendricks gave up two runs in three innings with a walk and four strikeouts for Chicago, which has dropped three straight and four of five.
“I left a change-up to Frazier and then I was trying to run one in on Marte with a fastball,” Hendricks said. “Those two got me, but other than that I thought my fastball command was better than expected, change-up was pretty good. It’s just good to be back out there.”
Dillion Maples came on for Hendricks in the fourth but was pulled after a walk and a two-out pinch-hit by Steven Brault — a starting pitcher by trade. Cubs manager Joe Maddon opted to bring in the left-handed Montgomery to face the left-handed Frazier and Frazier responded by drilling his fourth home run of the season.
“Frazier, that’s as hot as you can get right now,” Maddon said. “So that was unfortunate. After that, we just couldn’t muster any offense.”
TRAINER’S ROOM
Cubs: An MRI exam confirmed LHP Cole Hamels is dealing with a strained left oblique but nothing more serious. Hamels will undergo treatment this week and the team will re-evaluate his status after the All-Star break.
UP NEXT
Cubs: Yu Darvish (2-4, 4.98 ERA) looks for his first victory since April 27 on Wednesday. Darvish had a streak of 10 straight no-decisions end in a loss to Atlanta last week.
Pirates: Chris Archer (3-6, 5.50) is scheduled to make his 15th start of the season on Wednesday. Archer left a victory over Milwaukee last Friday after four innings due to discomfort in his left hip.
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Blackhawk Grad Brendan McKay stellar in his Major League Debut.

Local product and Blackhawk Grad Brendan Mc Kay made his Major league debut today, Saturday June 29, 2019. McKay was called up from the Tampa Bay Ray’s AAA minor league affiliate Durham Bulls to pitch against the Texas Rangers. McKay made the most out of his opportunity and pitch 6 scoreless innings of one hit ball. He also struck out three and walked only one. The Ray’s took a 3-0 lead in the Second inning after a Joey Wendle’s RBI double and a two run blast by Avisail Garcia. At the time of this article being written McKay was in line to get his first Major League win as the Ray’s have a 5-0 lead going to the 8th inning after adding two more runs on the bottom of the 7th inning.

Update: 7:10 p.m. EDT. The Ray’s defeated the Rangers 5-2 giving McKay his first Major League win in his first appearance.

Newman homers, Pirates rally late to beat Brewers 3-2. Bucs have won 3 of last 4

Newman homers, Pirates rally late to beat Brewers 3-2
By RICH ROVITO Associated Press
MILWAUKEE (AP) — After back-to-back wins in which the Pittsburgh Pirates scored in double digits, they had to scratch out a victory against the Milwaukee Brewers.
Kevin Newman homered and extended his hitting streak to 18 games, and the Pirates rallied with two late runs to beat the Brewers 3-2 on Friday night in the opener of a three-game series.
“Tonight, was a perfect indication of how good things can happen when you put the ball into play and win a game with two runs coming on infield ground balls and situational RBIs,” Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said.
The Pirates tied it in the eighth when Bryan Reynolds led off with a walk off reliever Junior Guerra and later scored on a fielder’s choice. In the ninth, Elias Diaz drew a one-out walk off Jeremy Jeffress (1-2) and moved to third on Jose Osuna’s single. Diaz scored when the Brewers failed to turn a double play on a comebacker to Jeffress.
“I think we should go home on that one,” Milwaukee manager Craig Counsell said. “There may have been a double play on a good turn and throw, but the safer play is the runner at third.”
Pittsburgh closer Felipe Vázquez (2-0) pitched two scoreless innings to help the Pirates won for the seventh time in eight games. Four relievers held the Brewers scoreless over the final five innings.
The Pirates, who have scored at least 10 runs in three out of their last four, generated little offense against Milwaukee starter Jhoulys Chacín. The right-hander, is winless since April 30, gave up six hits and one run in five innings in his longest outing since May 25.
“I thought Jhoulys pitched well,” Counsell said. “He gave us a good chance.”
Chris Archer’s wild pitch allowed Yasmani Grandal to score from third with the game’s first run. Eric Thames doubled to drive in another to give Milwaukee a 2-0 lead after one inning.
Newman hit a solo homer in the third, his fifth of the season, off Chacín to extend the longest active hitting streak in the majors.
“I feel like my approach is good I’m just trying to go up there and hit the ball hard,” Newman said.
Archer was pulled after four innings as a precaution after experiencing left hip discomfort while swinging at a pitch in the fourth. He gave up three hits and two runs while striking out six and walking two.
“It doesn’t feel great,” Archer said. “If I thought it was something I could fight through and still get good results, I would have stayed out there.”
ROSTER MOVES
Milwaukee recalled 2B Keston Hiura and INF/OF Tyler Saladino from Triple-A San Antonio. 3B Travis Shaw was optioned to San Antonio and INF/OF Hernán Pérez was designated for assignment. Hiura started at second and Saladino at shortstop.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Pirates: C Francisco Cervelli rejoined the team in Milwaukee but hasn’t been activated from the concussion injured list. … SS Erik González (factured left clavicle) began a minor-league rehab assignment with Triple-A Indianapolis on Friday. Gonzalez, who was injured in a collision with CF Starling Marte in April, went 0 for 3 in Indianapolis’ game at Gwinnett.
Brewers: RHP Jimmy Nelson was placed on the 10-day injured list, retroactive to June 26, with fluid on his right elbow. … RHP Corbin Burnes was recalled from Triple-A San Antonio. Burnes pitched a scoreless inning in relief.
ROOKIE RECORD
Newman’s hitting streak ties him with Neil Walker (2010) and Rennie Stennett (1971) for the longest by a Pittsburgh rookie. Bryan Reynolds, another Pirates’ rookie, had a 17-game hitting streak earlier this season.
SEARCHING FOR ANSWERS
The Brewers have dropped eight of their last 11 and fell to 3-5 on the 10-game homestand. “We’ve got to win baseball games,” Counsell said. “Right now, we’re not getting consistent performance from all areas.”
SHARED DUTIES
Saladino and Orlando Arcia, who has been the everyday shortstop, are likely to split time in the coming games, Counsell said. “Tyler Saladino’s going to play,” he said. “I think at least for a while here we’re going to share some time at shortstop.”
UP NEXT
Pirates: Jordan Lyles (5-3, 3.64 ERA), who has been out with left hamstring tightness, is expected to come off the injured list to start the second game of the series. Lyles is 3-4 with a 4.10 ERA in 14 career games (nine starts) against the Brewers.
Brewers: Brandon Woodruff (9-2, 4.01) will make his 17th start and third against the Pirates this season. He is 1-1 with a 7.11 ERA in five career games against Pittsburgh.
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Blackhawk Grad Brendan McKay to make big league debut Saturday June, 28, 2019 with the Rays

McKay to make big league debut
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — The Tampa Bay Rays have added two-way prospect Brendan McKay to the taxi squad in preparation for his major league debut in a pitching start Saturday against Texas.
McKay, taken fourth overall in the 2017 draft, was 3-0 with a 1.08 ERA in five games with Triple-A Durham. He also was a designated hitter.
McKay gives Tampa Bay the option of using four starting pitchers and an opener through a rotation turn. The Rays reinstated closer José Alvarado from the restricted list and recalled right-hander Casey Sadler from Triple-A Durham to help a taxed bullpen.
Alvarado left the team June 2 to tend to a family issue.
Tampa Bay optioned left-hander Jalen Beeks and infielder Mike Brosseau to Durham. Minor league catcher Nick Ciuffo was designated for assignment.
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Bell homers again as Pirates cruise past Astros 10-0

Bell homers again as Pirates cruise past Astros 10-0
By KRISTIE RIEKEN AP Sports Writer
HOUSTON (AP) — Josh Bell homered for the second straight game as one of five home runs by Pittsburgh as the Pirates routed the Houston Astros for the second game in a row with a 10-0 win on Thursday.
Former Astro Joe Musgrove (6-7) threw six scoreless innings for the win and Kevin Newman, Corey Dickerson, Starling Marte and Jacob Stallings added home runs for the Pirates to send Houston to its ninth loss in 11 games.
The Pirates picked up where they left off in Wednesday night’s 14-2 rout of Houston when Newman sent Brad Peacock’s first pitch of the game into the seats in left field for his first career leadoff homer. He has a career-long 17-game hitting streak, which is the longest active streak in the majors.
Houston starter Brad Peacock (6-6) allowed six runs in three innings, a game after Framber Valdez also made an early exit after the Pirates jumped on him for six runs through the first three.
There were two outs in the first inning when an RBI double by Colin Moran made it 2-0. Pittsburgh extended the lead to 4-0 when Dickerson, who tied a career high with four hits on Wednesday, homered to left field.
Marte started the third with a bunt single before Bell launched his 22nd homer onto the concourse in left-center to make it 6-0.
Marte opened the fifth inning with a home run off Cy Sneed, who was making his major league debut, and Stallings collected his first career home run when he added a solo shot with one out in the sixth.
Musgrove, traded to the Pirates in the deal that brought Gerrit Cole to Houston, picked up the win for the Astros in relief in Game 5 of the 2017 World Series. He allowed nine hits in his first meeting with his former team, but they were all singles to allow him to keep Houston off the board.
The Astros remain firmly in first place in the AL West, but are in the midst of a tough stretch where their pitching outside of Justin Verlander and Cole has struggled. Houston went 1-6 on a road trip against Cincinnati and the New York Yankees, before losing two of three in this series.
Jacob Stallings added an RBI single for Pittsburgh in the eighth and Newman made it 10-0 with a run-scoring double.
Sneed allowed seven hits and four runs in six innings to save Houston’s taxed bullpen after being called up from Triple-A Round Rock before the game.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Astros: LF Yordan Alvarez left the game after the third inning because of discomfort in his left knee. … RHP Joe Smith (Achilles tendon) will pitch at Round Rock on Friday as he continues a rehabilitation assignment.
UP NEXT
Pirates: RHP Chris Archer (3-6, 5.56 ERA) will start for Pittsburgh in the opener of a three-game series at Milwaukee on Friday night. Archer allowed just two hits and one run in five innings in his previous game against San Diego but did not factor in the decision.
Astros: LHP Wade Miley (6-4, 3.51) is scheduled to start for Houston to start a series against Seattle on Friday night. Miley allowed four runs in five innings in a loss to the Yankees in his previous start.
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