Magic Wandy: Astros lefty Rodriguez throws 5-hitter in 5-0 win over Pirates

Rodriguez leads Astros over Pirates 5-0

HOUSTON — Wandy Rodriguez pitched a five-hitter and tied a career high by striking out 11, leading the Houston Astros over the Pittsburgh Pirates 5-0 Wednesday.

The 30-year-old Rodriguez threw his second career complete game, having shut out the New York Mets two years ago.

Rodriguez (8-6) won his third straight decision. The lefty is only one victory behind his total from last season.

Lance Berkman doubled twice and drove in a pair of runs. The Astros won two of three, leaving the Pirates without a road series victory since May 18-21.

Charlie Morton (1-2), traded last month in the deal that sent Nate McLouth to Atlanta, struggled in giving up five runs and 10 hits in four innings. In his previous outing, he earned his first win with the Pirates by pitching six scoreless innings.

Rodriguez gave up a pair singles with one out in the second before retiring the next 10 batters. He didn’t allow another hit until Ramon Vazquez singled with two outs in the fifth.

Delwyn Young singled with two outs in the ninth before Rodriguez struck out Garrett Jones to end the game. The crowd of more than 29,000 rose to its feet and cheered loudly.

Michael Bourn had a run-scoring triple, Carlos Lee had an RBI double and Miguel Tejada drove in a run for the Astros, who finished with 13 hits.

Bourn tripled in the third and scored on a single by Tejada to put Houston ahead 1-0. Berkman followed with a double, but Tejada was thrown out at the plate. Lee’s double made it 2-0.

Bourn hit an RBI single in the fourth. Tejada singled to load the bases before Berkman’s double to right field scored Rodriguez and Bourn.

NOTES: Retired Panamanian boxing star Roberto Duran attended the game and threw out the first pitch. Duran is perhaps best known for defeating Sugar Ray Leonard in a 15-round decision for the WBC welterweight title in 1980. … Pittsburgh 2B Freddy Sanchez missed his sixth consecutive start with back spasms. He is expected to return on Friday against the Phillies. … Pirates C Ryan Doumit, on the disabled list with a wrist injury, is 0 for 17 in five rehabilitation games in the minors after going 0 for 5 with a walk as the designated hitter for Triple-A Indianapolis on Tuesday.