HOUSTON (AP) – Dave Williams pitched his first complete game and Jack Wilson hit a grand slam for one of Pittsburgh’s four homers, leading the Pirates to an 8-0 victory Sunday and their second consecutive shutout of the Houston Astros.

Jason Bay, Jose Castillo and Ryan Doumit also connected for the Pirates, who have blanked Houston four times this season. The Astros, who hold a slim lead in the NL wild-card race, have been shut out 14 times overall – most in the major leagues.

It was the first time Williams (10-8) lasted longer than seven innings in 55 major league starts. He gave up five hits and improved to 1-3 in six career starts against Houston. The left-hander struck out seven, walked one and did not allow a runner past first base in Pittsburgh’s ninth shutout of the season.

Ezequiel Astacio (2-6) went six innings for Houston, allowing four runs and seven hits. He had a career-high seven strikeouts but gave up three homers. In his 13 starts, Astacio has given up 67 hits, including 19 home runs.

Castillo’s 11th homer in the second and Bay’s 23rd in the fourth built a 2-0 lead for Pittsburgh.

In the sixth inning, Daryle Ward singled and Doumit followed with his third homer for a 4-0 lead.

Wilson hit his second career slam in the eighth off Mike Burns, his eighth homer this year. Wilson’s homer off Brad Lidge in the ninth inning Saturday sent Pittsburgh to a 1-0 win, spoiling a splendid outing by Roger Clemens.

Notes: After Adam Everett was pulled in a double switch, Houston C Brad Ausmus played shortstop for the first time in his career in the ninth inning. … Houston’s Willy Taveras and Craig Biggio were not in the starting lineup to give them some rest, although Taveras pinch-hit in the sixth. … Bay has reached base safely in 29 consecutive games. His home run was the 53rd of his career, moving him into eighth place among Canadian-born players. … Though only 25-36 on the road, the Pirates have won five of their last seven away from home.

AP-ES-08-14-05 1647EDT


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