Hunter Pence Snaps MLB Leading Hit Streak as Houston Astros Fall to the Pittsburgh Pirates

The Houston Astros lost a close one last night as they fell 1-0 to their division rival, the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Bud Norris gave up 1 earned run early in the 2^nd inning and held the Pirates scoreless afterwards but 1 run was enough on this night. Norris went 7 innings with his 1 earned run on 6 hits. The loss drops his record to 4-5 on the year but he is also to drop his ERA to 3.48 in the start.

Jeff Karstens gets the win for the Pirates and improves both his record and the ball clubs record to .500.  Karstens has been hot in June. He is 1-0 and has a 0.44 ERA in his last 3 starts this month and currently has a scoreless streak of 14 2/3^rd innings going.

The Pirates used several relievers after taking out Karstens and combined the teams used pitchers. The most in a 9 inning game in the MLB since the expansion.

The Astros bats were ice cold last night as the team was held to 4 hits for the game. Outfielder Hunter Pence was 0 for 4 last night and snapped his MLB leading and career best 23 game hit streak.

Pence had this to say about the game and his performance:

"The loss is pretty painful. We have to find way to win series, and tonight I was not able to contribute. I feel like I had good at-bats, they pitched well and ultimately, it is about wins and losses and the streak was fun. It was a great experience, and I hope some of the fans got to enjoy it a little bit." -AP

Before the game the Astros fired pitching coach Brad Arnsberg. He was replaced on an interim basis by Doug Brocail, a former pitcher for the team.