Maholm blanks Astros as Pirates bang out 19 hits

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07/18/2010 - Pittsburgh, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Paul Maholm twirled a three-hit shutout to pitch Pittsburgh past Houston, 9-0, and finish off a three-game set at PNC Park.

Maholm (6-7) did not walk a batter, struck out one and did not allow a runner to advance past first base in his second career shutout for the Pirates, who took the last two games of the series by outscoring the Astros, 21-6.

Garrett Jones belted a two-run homer, Ronny Cedeno had four hits -- three doubles -- and scored twice and Ryan Doumit added three hits, a run scored and a run batted in for Pittsburgh, which banged out a season-high 19 hits to win a third straight home series.

Roy Oswalt (6-11) took the loss after yielding two runs on seven hits while fanning five over four frames. He left the game with a left ankle contusion after being struck by a Pedro Alvarez batted ball in the second inning.

Oswalt, who threw a one-hit shutout over the Buccos in his last start against them on July 8, was touched for a pair of runs in the second inning.

Alvarez started the rally with a one-out single off the left ankle of Oswalt and scored when Doumit doubled to center field. Lastings Milledge followed with a run-scoring single and advanced to third base when Cedeno doubled. The veteran right-hander worked out of further difficulty by striking out Maholm and Andrew McCutchen.

Milledge reached second on a fielder's choice in the fourth inning and was thrown out trying to score by Carlos Lee on a Cedeno base hit to left field.

Oswalt was removed from the game after the inning ended with a left ankle contusion and was followed on the hill by Chris Sampson.

Jose Tabata singled with one out, stole second base and scored when Jones blasted his two-out, two-run home run to right field to push the lead to 4-0.

Wilton Lopez took over for Sampson in the sixth and gave up a single to Milledge and a double to Cedeno that put runners on second and third with one out. After Maholm grounded out, McCutchen singled to right to drive in both runners to extend the home team's edge to 6-0.

McCutchen then left the game after making a diving catch on a Pedro Feliz line drive for the second out in the top of the eighth inning.

The Pirates tacked on a trio of runs in the bottom of the frame on RBI doubles by Ryan Church, who replaced McCutchen, and Tabata along with a run-scoring single by Neil Walker off Casey Daigle.

Game Notes

The Pirates have won seven of their last nine at home and are now 7-6-1 in home series...Delwyn Young had hit Pittsburgh's last home run with a runner on base, off Stephen Strasburg on June 8, before Jones' long ball in Sunday's game...Alvarez has hit safely in 14 of his last 16 games, while Milledge has hit safely in six in a row...Maholm matched Zach Duke for the most wins at PNC Park with 27...He is now 9-5 in 15 starts against the Astros. Oswalt remains one win shy of Joe Niekro's franchise record 144 victories...Oswalt had gone at least six innings in all 27 career starts versus the Buccos before Sunday. Houston's Hunter Pence lost an eight-game hit streak after going 0-for-3.

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El Duque expected to throw Tuesday

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- New York Mets pitcher Orlando Hernandez, sidelined at spring training because of arthritis in his neck, is expected to resume throwing on Tuesday.

Hernandez received a cortisone shot Thursday after leaving camp and returning to New York to have his neck examined. The 41-year-old right-hander is penciled in as the team's No. 2 starter behind Tom Glavine.

El Duque's health is a major issue for the Mets, who won the NL East in 2007 and came within one victory of the World Series. Their aging and unsettled rotation is a big question mark this year.

MySportsbook.com has the Mets as -110 favorites to repeat as NL East champions odds. 

Hernandez went 11-11 with a 4.66 ERA last season, including 9-7 with a 4.09 ERA in 20 starts after the Mets acquired him from Arizona in late May. But he missed the playoffs because of a torn calf muscle.

New York already is without Pedro Martinez, out until at least midseason following rotator cuff surgery. Among those competing for starting jobs are prospects Mike Pelfrey, Philip Humber and Jason Vargas, plus veterans Chan Ho Park, Jorge Sosa and Aaron Sele.

Notes: Mets manager Willie Randolph is excited about two new utility players he could have on his bench: Damion Easley and David Newhan. ''Their value is really all over the place,'' Randolph said. Easley can play anywhere in the infield and could be used as an emergency outfielder, though Randolph said he would prefer to keep the veteran in the infield. Newhan, meanwhile, can play second base, third or any outfield position for the Mets. ''I love versatility,'' Randolph said. ''I love guys that can give me options when I need them to step in.''

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