Lee, Berkman homer for second straight game in Houston’s 6-3 win over Pittsburgh

Astros hit four homers in 6-3 win over Pirates

HOUSTON — Carlos Lee and Lance Berkman homered for the second straight game and the Houston Astros hit a season-high four home runs in a 6-3 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday night.

Jeff Keppinger and Hunter Pence added solo shots for the Astros, who came in with a major-league low 50 homers this season.

Berkman has homered in three straight games, the first time he’s accomplished that feat since he hit homers in four consecutive games between July 29-Aug. 2, 2007.

Casey Daigle (1-1) pitched two scoreless innings in relief to earn the victory. Astros starter Brian Moehler left after three innings with a strained right groin.

Pirates starter Daniel McCutchen (1-4) allowed three of Houston’s four homers in five innings of work.

Keppinger extended his hitting streak to nine games with a solo homer to left in the first.

Berkman drew a two-out walk in the Astros’ half of the third, and Lee followed with a homer to left, his 12th. Lee went 19 games and 71 at-bats without a home run before hitting a solo shot in Tuesday’s 6-2 victory.

Left-hander Gustavo Chacin replaced Moehler for the fourth and Garrett Jones led off with a double. Pedro Alvarez walked before Ryan Doumit drove in Jones with a single to right to make it 3-1.

Ryan Church tied it with a double to the gap in left center, prompting boos from the sparse crowd at Minute Maid Park. Center fielder Michael Bourn made two sparkling catches to help Chacin escape further damage in the inning.

The Pirates loaded the bases with two outs in the fifth against Daigle, but Church struck out swinging.

Berkman put the Astros ahead with a solo homer in the fifth, his 10th of the season. Berkman and Lee homered in the same game for the third time this season.

Pence led off the Astros’ sixth with a homer to left off D.J. Carrasco, setting a new season high for Houston. The Astros hit three home runs in a 6-4 win over Washington on June 3.

The Astros loaded the bases in the seventh against Evan Meek, and Bourn scored from third base on a passed ball for a 6-3 lead.

Matt Lindstrom shut out the Pirates in the ninth to earn his 20th save in his 24th chance.

NOTES: Astros IF Geoff Blum underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right elbow on Wednesday, and he is expected to miss 2-4 weeks. Blum went on the disabled list on Sunday after hurting his elbow on Thursday in San Diego. The Astros say Blum will begin range-of-motion exercises within three days. … The Pirates acquired right-handed reliever Sean Gallagher from San Diego on Wednesday in exchange for cash. The club will make a corresponding roster move when Gallagher joins the team in Houston. … As a practical joke, the Astros parked RHP Bud Norris’ car on the warning track in center field and decorated it with shaving cream during batting practice. LHP Tim Byrdak said Norris is trying to sell the 1996 Acura and his teammates were jokingly trying to increase its value. Norris eventually drove the car off the field. “It’s not where I left it,” Norris said. “I thought it was funny.”