Published: July 07, 2009 11:55 pm      

Wilson helps lift Pirates

HOUSTON — Jack Wilson hit a two-run homer and finished with three RBIs, helping the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the Houston Astros 6-3 on Tuesday night.

Wilson singled in a run in Pittsburgh’s four-run seventh and Paul Maholm pitched six solid innings for the Pirates, who ended a three-game skid.

Hunter Pence, Lance Berkman and Michael Bourn each drove in a run for Houston, which finished with 10 hits. Ivan Rodriguez went 3-for-4 and All-Star shortstop Miguel Tejada had two hits.

Berkman also committed a key error in Pittsburgh’s big seventh inning. The Pirates loaded the bases with one out on three consecutive walks before Jason Jaramillo hit a grounder to first.

Berkman tried to go home but Ivan Rodriguez couldn’t handle his one-hop throw, allowing Garrett Jones to score. Pinch-hitter Delwyn Young, Andrew McCutchen and Wilson followed with RBI singles to give the Pirates a 6-2 lead.

That was enough for Maholm (6-4), who allowed two runs and six hits. The left-hander was coming off a poor start against the New York Mets, when he gave up six runs and 11 hits over 41/3 innings.

Joel Hanrahan replaced Maholm and was charged with a run while recording just one out. John Grabow allowed three hits in 12/3 scoreless innings before Matt Capps pitched a perfect ninth for his 19th save.

Wilson drove in McCutchen with a two-out drive in the third but Houston rallied. Berkman had a run-scoring groundout in the bottom half and scored on All-Star Hunter Pence’s base hit in the sixth.

Brian Moehler (5-5) retired the next 11 batters after Wilson’s homer and was replaced by Tim Byrdak after he issued consecutive walks with one out in the seventh.

He allowed three hits and four runs.

The Astros loaded the bases with one out in the eighth, but Jeff Keppinger grounded into a double play.

NOTES: Pittsburgh 2B Freddy Sanchez missed his fifth consecutive start with back spasms and manager John Russell said they hope to have the All-Star back in the lineup by Friday. Russell said Sanchez is feeling better and took some light swings. ... Pirates C Ryan Doumit, on the disabled list with a wrist injury, is 0 for 12 in four rehabilitation games in the minors after going 0 for 3 and catching seven innings on Monday for Triple-A Indianapolis.