Astros Acquire Kikuchi Amid Injury Crisis

The Pittsburgh Pirates defeated the Houston Astros 6-2, thanks to Michael Taylor's two-run homer and Bailey Falter's strong pitching. Taylor's homer in the sixth inning marked his second consecutive game with a home run, while Falter, in his first start since July 6, allowed just one run over 5 1/3 innings. Astros starter Hunter Brown struggled, allowing five runs and committing a key error. The Pirates also capitalized on Astros' mistakes, scoring early and maintaining their lead. This win follows another recent victory where Taylor hit a go-ahead homer, marking a significant improvement in his performance. Meanwhile, the Astros are dealing with a depleted rotation, recently trading for Yusei Kikuchi in hopes of bolstering their pitching staff.