Pittsburgh Pirates weekly report

After a June 3 rainout, the Pirates resumed their domination of the New York Mets with an 11-6 win on June 4 to sweep the shortened series. Andrew McCutchen showed why he's one of the top young prospects in the game by picking up two hits, scoring three runs, driving in a run and stealing a base in his Major League debut. Steven Jackson pitched two innings in relief to earn his first career win.

On June 5, the Pirates found themselves blasted 9-1 by the Houston Astros. Jeff Karstens (2-3) kept the Pirates in the game for five innings, working out of trouble and giving up two runs, but his luck ended in the sixth, when the Astros rallied for seven runs. Karstens was charged with four more runs and lifted, then Evan Meek served up a grand slam to Carlos Lee. Jack Wilson drove in the Bucs' lone run.

Paul Maholm (4-2) let the Astros grab an early lead but the Pirates came back with a pair of three-run rallies in the second and third innings and held on to win 6-4. Adam and Andy LaRoche sparked the Bucs' comeback with back-to-back hits in the second and third innings. Maholm got the win and Matt Capps notched his 13^th save.

The Pirates lost the rubber game of the series on Sunday, 6-4, to the Astros. They tied the game in the top of the seventh with two runs, but couldn't hold on. Ian Snell had a quality start, giving up three runs in six innings, but Steve Jackson (1-1) took the loss after yielding three runs in 1 1/3 innings. Andrew McCutchen had three hits but great defense by the Astros killed Pirate threats in the fifth and seventh innings.

On Monday, The Pirates lost a 15-inning marathon 7-6 to the Atlanta Braves. The Bucs' three-run rally in the seventh pushed the game into extra innings and the bullpen threw eight scoreless frames, but then Jeff Karstens (2-4) got into a bases-loaded jam in the 15^th inning and lost it on a throw that pulled the catcher off home plate.

The Pirates' slide continued an Tuesday as the Atlanta Braves again won a close one, 4-3. Ross Ohlendorf worked efficiently and effectively for more than six innings, leaving with a runner on base and a slim lead, but the bullpen let the Braves take over. Sean Burnett (1-2) took the loss. Nyjer Morgan and Delwyn Young each had two hits and scored a run in the losing effort.