Astros’ Lance McCullers Jr. beats Pirates for first win since ’22

Isaac Paredes and Christian Walker homered as Lance McCullers Jr. outdueled Paul Skenes, helping the Houston Astros defeat the host Pittsburgh Pirates 3-0 on Tuesday night.
McCullers (1-1) pitched six shutout innings, allowing two hits and one walk while striking out seven on 96 pitches. He registered his first victory since returning last month from a two-year injury absence following flexor tendon surgery.
He most recently won a game on Sept. 21, 2022.
The Astros prevailed for the third time in their past four games while the Pirates lost for the third time in four contests.
Houston posted its second consecutive shutout and sixth of the season while Pittsburgh was blanked for the 10th time.
Josh Hader worked a perfect ninth and converted his 16th save in 16 opportunities this season.
After receiving plenty of run support in his most recent start — a 10-1 Pirates win over the Arizona Diamondbacks on May 28 — Skenes (4-6) didn’t get any on Tuesday. The Pirates wasting a quality outing in which he allowed one run on three hits and one walk over eight innings.
Skenes struck out eight on 99 pitches but yielded a go-ahead solo home run in the seventh to Walker, who belted his eighth of the season over the left field wall.
Houston added two more runs in the top of the ninth when Paredes hit his 12th home run 403 feet and past the left field wall off Pirates reliever Dennis Santana.
Pittsburgh tried to rally in the bottom of the eighth when Isiah Kiner-Falefa led off with a single. After Oneil Cruz reached on a fielder’s-choice grounder, Cruz appeared to steal second safely, but he overran the bag and was tagged out by second baseman Jose Altuve.
Kiner-Falefa collected two of Pittsburgh’s four hits.
Before ethe game, the Pirates reinstated second baseman Nick Gonzales (ankle) from the 60-day injured list. Gonzales started and went 1-for-3, playing for the first time since breaking his ankle in the season opener.
Pittsburgh also recalled right-handed reliever Kyle Nicolas from Triple-A Indianapolis and designated utility man Nick Solak for assignment.