Lance Berkman's three-run homer in the sixth inning today snapped a 3-all tie and boosted the Houston Astros to a 6-3 victory against the Pirates .
Reliever Sean Burnett (0-1) got the first two outs quickly in the sixth. Michael Bourn doubled and Miguel Tejada drew a full-count walk. Berkman blasted a 1-2 pitch to left field, his second homer of the season.
The Pirates built a 3-1 lead through two innings against righty Russ Ortiz. Adam LaRoche had an RBI double and Nyjer Morgan hit an RBI triple.
In his season debut, Pirates right-hander Jeff Karstens needed 87 pitches to get through four innings. He allowed three runs on four hits, walked five and struck out one.
Karstens was supposed to pitch last Friday in Cincinnati, but the game was rained out and his turn in the rotation was skipped.
After an 0-for-18 start at the plate, Andy LaRoche finally got a hit ? a sixth-inning single to right against reliever Chris Sampson.
