Pirates Shut Out Astros 3-0; Mike Burrows Earns First Starter Win

Wednesday, June 4th, 2025

PITTSBURGH -- The Pittsburgh Pirates defeated the Houston Astros 3-0 on Wednesday night, with pitcher Mike Burrows earning the first victory of his career as a starter.

Pitching Highlights

Burrows (1-1), whose progress was impacted by Tommy John surgery in 2023, delivered a strong performance, holding Houston scoreless through 5 1/3 innings. The 25-year-old right-hander allowed five hits and struck out six. This outing marked a significant improvement after giving up eight runs in 8 1/3 innings over his first two starts since being called up from Triple-A Indianapolis.

David Bednar closed out the game in the ninth inning to secure his seventh save of the season.

Houston starter Ryan Gusto (3-3) struggled, laboring through 4 1/3 innings. He threw 83 pitches to record just 13 outs before being removed with two runners on base. Gusto allowed three runs on eight hits, walking two and striking out three. The right-hander's recent form has seen him go 0-2 with an 8.22 ERA in his last six appearances.

Offensive Contributions

Oneil Cruz and Spencer Horwitz each contributed two hits for Pittsburgh, helping the team snap a two-game losing streak. Andrew McCutchen and Isiah Kiner-Falefa drove in the crucial runs against Gusto in the second inning, providing Burrows with all the offense needed for the win.

Houston's Performance

Jeremy Peña accounted for two of Houston's seven hits in the game. The loss was only the third for the Astros in their last 10 games.

Key Moment

Houston's best chance to score came in the sixth inning. A double by Jeremy Peña and a walk to Jose Altuve put two runners on base with one out. However, Pirates reliever Chase Shugart successfully retired the next two batters, with third baseman Ke'Bryan Hayes making a notable defensive play on a ground ball hit by Yainer Diaz to end the inning and preserve the shutout.

Key Stat

11-13: Pittsburgh's record since Don Kelly took over as manager on May 8.

Up Next

The interleague series concludes on Thursday. Houston is scheduled to start Framber Valdez (5-4, 3.12 ERA), while Pittsburgh will counter with veteran Mitch Keller (1-7, 3.73).

In Summary

The Pittsburgh Pirates defeated the Houston Astros 3-0 on June 4, 2025. Pirates pitcher Mike Burrows earned his first career win as a starter, throwing 5 1/3 scoreless innings with six strikeouts. David Bednar recorded the save. Offensive support came from Oneil Cruz and Spencer Horwitz with two hits each, and RBIs from Andrew McCutchen and Isiah Kiner-Falefa. Houston starter Ryan Gusto took the loss. The Astros' biggest threat was neutralized in the sixth inning. This game marks the Pirates' 11th win under new manager Don Kelly since May 8. The series concludes tomorrow with Framber Valdez pitching for Houston and Mitch Keller for Pittsburgh.

Related Links

• Houston Astros News & Updates
• Houston Astros Schedule & Scores
• Pittsburgh Pirates News & Updates
• Pittsburgh Pirates Schedule & Scores
• MLB News