Karstens pitches Pirates past Astros 4-0

HOUSTON (AP) — Jeff Karstens pitched a five-hitter and Andrew McCutchen tripled and drove in two runs as the surging Pittsburgh Pirates opened the second half of the season with a 4-0 victory over the Houston Astros on Friday night.

Karstens (8-4) needed just 83 pitches to become the first Pirate to win five straight decisions in a season since Matt Capps in 2006. He has an ERA of 2.34 this year, but has been particularly dominant in his three starts against Houston, going 3-0 with an 0.41 ERA.

Read the story in Saturday’s Vindicator and vindy.com.