Bautista's Late Home Run Powers Pirates Past Astros

Pirates second - Jose Bautista hit a leadoff triple off the left center field wall and was left stranded.

Astros second - Ty Wigginton stroked a double with one out, took third on a passed ball, and was left stranded.

Pirates third - Freddy Sanchez lined a double into the left field corner with one out and Adam LaRoche singled to Hunter Pence playing his first game in right who bobbled it and Sanchez scored.

1-0 Pirates.

Astros third - with two outs and the bases loaded, Ty Wigginton hammered a fly ball to deep right center that Nyjer Morgan had to try and track down from left center and, in true Willie Mays fashion, made an incredible over the shoulder basket catch just before he hit the wall stranding three.

Astros sixth - Snell took the mound at the 96 pitch mark and Wigginton hit a leadoff double into right, Brad Ausmus singled through the right side with Wigginton stopping at third, and Roy Oswalt hit a slow roller to Bautista who threw to Sanchez covering second for the force, but the ball went off Sanchez's mitt for an error allowing Wigginton to score.

1-1 tie.

Astros seventh - Lance Berkman went yard on a Damaso Marte heater for just the second time Marte allowed a home run all year.

2-1 Astros.

Pirates eighth - Sanchez ledoff with a broken bat single back through the box, LaRoche's ground ball forced Sanchez at second, and Bautista ripped a Chad Qualls heater off the left foul line pole for a two-run shot. Steven Pearce then singled and stole second and Ronny Paulino brought him home with a flair to center.

Pirates 4-2.

Astros eighth - Cody Ranson wasn't hit by a pitch but home plate umpire Jerry Meals said he was, so after Meals pointed his finger that way, Ransom took the bag. Carlos Lee then stroked a double into the right field corner and Ransom was held at third. Josh Anderson brought home Ransom with a line drive to center.

Pirates 4-3.

Astros ninth - nine pitches to three batters by Matt Capps and he recorded his 17th save and the Pirates first win in the Coonelly Era.

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The Astros were huge favorites to win this game allowing the Pirates to go off at +161 at Bodog.

Vegas saw Roy Oswalt's 1.31 ERA last three games at Minute Maid against the Pirates and, knowing Jason Bay and Xavier Nady were likely still out of the lineup, big money flowed to the Astros late which allowed a Pirate bet to win big.

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Jason Bay is expected to return to action Saturday night.

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The Mets and Blue Jays front offices have provided us with some insight on who might be interviewing for the Pirates GM position as Jon Heyman with Sports Illustrated reported Friday afternoon that Mets assistant general manager Tony Bernazard and Blue Jays director of player personnel Tony LaCava have already interviewed.

So much for Robert Nutting's wish for secrecy.

LaCava has already turned down the opportunity to interview for three GM openings with the Royals, Red Sox, and Devil Rays waiting for an opening in Pittsburgh, and Bernazard was linked as a possible candidate in the Astros current GM search.

Interestingly, first year Pirates beat reporter for MLB.com, Jenifer Langosch, reported that: "Sylvia Lind, Major League Baseball's Minor League coordinator, is among those being considered for a front-office position in Pittsburgh, possibly as an assistant general manager."

If the report is accurate, which hasn't been Langosch's greatest asset so far this year, that's a rather shocking revelation in that Coonelly would be undermining his future GM's staff even before he hires one. Perhaps we are starting to see why Rick Hahn, Chris Antonetti, and Ruben Amaro Jr. have all withdrawn their names from the opportunity?

How do you spell centralized micromanagement? Ughhh..