Five in the sixth-pick up sticks....

The Pittsburgh Pirates seemed to be on their way to another win until a disastrous sixth inning saw five Houston Astro runners cross the plate,giving Houston a lead that they would never give up in a 8-2 Houston victory.
Charlie Morton was the loser (7-5) after allowing all five runs in the sixth inning.
Pittsburgh dropped to third place in the division with the loss and takes today off before a weekend series against the Cubs before the four day layoff next week...

Pirate Hooks

1) Charlie Morton was terrific for five innings,but one did not need to be an expert to see the difference in the sixth inning.
Simply put-Morton's ball began to rise in the zone and Houston hammered him.
I cannot say the reason was mechanical or not for sure,but it is becoming apparent that despite Morton's tools that he has a small margin for error.

2) Andrew McCutchen knocked both Pirate runs in,but his sixth inning defensively was the largest part of the Astros big inning.
McCutchen bobbled and then lost the ball on one play that resulted in an Astro run and his misplay on a Carlos Lee hit allowed the lumbering Lee to earn a triple on a play that could have been an out or at maximum a single.

3) Pittsburgh did have a chance to get back in the game in the seventh with two runners on and one out,but Bud Norris retired Xavier Paul on a popout and Alex Presley on a flyball.
Paul and Presley strike me as similar players and on a team closer to full strength,I doubt the Pirates have room for two outfielders that bring a similar toolset....

4) As I am sure you know,I like Bud Norris and despite the loss,it was cool to see Norris get the win for the struggling Astros.Looking at the entire situation from contract status,money,skills etc,there is not one pitcher on the Pirates that I would keep over Norris in a straight up deal...

5) Now that Drayton McLane is selling the Astros,any chance of the new owners going back to the orange colors instead of the red brick that McLane loved so much?
Ryan once told me that Houston wore the "brick" unis all the time because McLane loved them and wanted them to wear them at home as well as the road.
Only difference is the word Houston on the roads and Astros at home.

6) Rachel doesn't watch a ton of baseball,but she watched last night with me (I loved every minute) and the one thing that she said with excitement (besides the Pirate Parrot) was watched one play and exclaiming "Man,that guy is fast!"-the player?Michael Bourn of Houston,who for my money is the fastest player in the game....

7) Look for coverage on the West Virginia Power's only visit to Hagerstown this season.
I have tickets to all four games,.two of which I can see totally and the other two I will stay as much as possible.

Photo by Jared Wickerham/Getty Images