Pirates, Paul Skenes to open series with host Astros

(Photo credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports)

Locked in a traffic jam of National League wild-card contenders, the Pittsburgh Pirates averted a three-game series sweep at the hands of the Arizona Diamondbacks and built some momentum before facing the host Houston Astros.

Thanks in large part to pinch-hit doubles from Rowdy Tellez and Joey Bart that tied Sunday's game at 2-2 in the ninth inning, the Pirates went on to w