Pirates Beat Astros 6-2, Clinch Series

The Pittsburgh Pirates secured a 6-2 victory over the Houston Astros, with Michael A. Taylor homering for the second consecutive game and Bailey Falter delivering a solid start in his return from injury. Taylor's two-run homer off Astros starter Hunter Brown marked his fourth of the season and first back-to-back homer games since August with Minnesota. Falter, making his first start since July 6, allowed one earned run over 5.1 innings with no walks and three strikeouts. The Pirates capitalized on three Astros errors and secured 11 hits overall. The win moves the Pirates to a 55-52 record, tying with the St. Louis Cardinals for second place in the NL Central. Injuries remain a concern for the Pirates, with Carmen Mlodzinski and outfielders Joshua Palacios and Ji Hwan Bae all sidelined.