HOUSTON -- The Astros pulled off an improbable rally late from five runs down, scoring twice in the seventh inning and six times after two outs in the eighth, to stun the Pirates with an 11-9 victory on Wednesday night at Daikin Park.
The Pirates led, 8-3, after scoring three times in the seventh, including a two-run homer by Nick Gonzales, but a two-run homer by Isaac Paredes in the bottom of the inning kept the Astros close at 8-5 heading to the eighth.
Trailing 9-5, the Astros had two outs and no runners on base in the eighth before eight consecutive batters reached base, including back-to-back doubles by Nick Allen and Christian Vázquez .Christian Walker legged out an infield single to cut the lead to 9-8, and pinch-runner Zack Cole scored on a wild pitch to tie the game.
After a walk to Paredes, Cam Smith shot a two-run triple down the right-field line to score Walker and Paredes and put the Astros ahead 11-9. That set the stage for Josh Hader -- activated from the injured list prior to Tuesday’s series opener -- to make his 2026 debut and close Pittsburgh out for his first save of the year.
The game was billed as a pitchers' duel between the Astros’ Spencer Arrighetti, who was named American League Pitcher of the Month for May, and Pirates ace Paul Skenes, the reigning National League Cy Young winner. Neither pitcher could finish five innings.
Arrighetti threw 83 pitches in four innings, giving up a fourth-inning grand slam to nine-hole hitter Henry Davis that put the Pirates ahead, 4-2.