Pittsburgh, PA (My Sportsbook) - Lance Berkman hit a go-ahead three-run homer in the sixth, and the Houston Astros defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates, 6-3, to take the rubber match of a three-game set at PNC Park.

Miguel Tejada added two hits and a run scored, while Michael Bourn scored twice in the victory for Houston, which has won two straight after being shut out for two straight games.

Russ Ortiz made his first start since August 20, 2007, and threw 4 2/3 innings, allowing three runs on five hits and two walks, with two strikeouts. Wesley Wright (1-0) got credit for the win by getting one out in the fifth.

Nyjer Morgan went 3-for-5 with a double and a triple for the Pirates, who are 4-5 on the young season. Adam LaRoche drove in a run while adding two hits.

Jeff Karstens started and gave up three runs on four hits and five walks in four innings. Sean Burnett (0-1) was the game's loser after giving up Berkman's homer.

The Astros used the long ball to forge ahead in the sixth. Burnett was able to get the first two Houston batters out, but a two-out rally came back to haunt him. Bourn doubled and Tejada followed with a walk. Berkman then blasted a three-run homer to left to make it 6-3 in favor of the visitors.

The Pirates had two runners on base in the seventh, as Morgan and Jack Wilson both reached with one out off Chris Sampson. Freddy Sanchez then battled to a 17-pitch at-bat before flying out, and Tim Byrdak came on and struck out Nate McLouth to end the inning.

Byrdak pitched a scoreless eighth, and LaTroy Hawkins finished out the ninth for his first save of the season.

The Pirates grabbed the lead in the first. Morgan led off with a double down the right field line, moved to third on a sac bunt and scored on a wild pitch.

Later in the frame, with two outs, McLouth singled to right and scored on LaRoche's double to deep center.

Hunter Pence quickly cut Houston's deficit in half, blasting his third homer of the season to lead off the second.

Pittsburgh rallied again with two outs in the second, as Karstens worked a walk and scored on Morgan's triple for a 3-1 lead.

Houston manufactured a run in the third. Bourn led off with a walk and stole second. He moved up to third on a groundout and scored on Carlos Lee's fielder's choice groundout. The Astros tied the game in the fourth with a two out rally, as Jeff Keppinger tripled to center and came home on Ortiz's single.

Game Notes

Ortiz came into the game 8-1 in 13 career starts against the Pirates...Pittsburgh's Jason Jaramillo made his major league debut and went 1- for-3...The Pirates are 4-0 when they score four or more runs and 0-5 when they score three or less...Houston left 10 runners on base, while Pittsburgh left eight.