Pirates 5, Astros 2: Andrew McCutchen recorded four hits for the second time in four games, including a line-drive solo home run in the third inning, as Pittsburgh defeated visiting Houston.

Jose Tabata also belted a solo homer in the fifth that gave the Pirates a 3-1 lead and scored twice.

Pirates starter Charlie Morton (2-3) allowed eight hits, but just two runs – one earned -- over six innings for the win. Juan Cruz pitched the ninth for his third save -- half of his career total.

Pittsburgh had a runner at third with none out twice on Friday and came up empty in a 1-0 loss to the Astros. The Pirates wasted no time breaking that string when Tabata tripled and jogged home on Neil Walker’s sacrifice fly for a 1-0 lead in the first. They never trailed.

Morton escaped a bases-loaded, none-out jam in the sixth, giving up one run on Justin Maxwell’s fielder’s choice that trimmed the lead to 3-2.

Houston starter J.A. Happ (2-3) allowed five runs in five-plus innings. Pedro Alvarez broke out of a 0-for-22 slump with a double off Happ in the sixth, igniting a two-run rally.

Jordan Schafer had two hits and an RBI for Houston, which dropped to 5-10 on the road.

GAME NOTEBOOK: McCutchen is now 11-for-25 with four homers in his career against Happ and is batting .452 against lefthanders this season. … Brian Bogusevic had two singles for his sixth multi-hit game for Houston. … The Pirates are 10-0 when leading after the sixth inning.