First-Place Pirates Beat Astros 6-4 Two months ago, an early two-run deficit would have had the Pittsburgh Pirates scrambling. Now, it's just a blip. And for the moment, two decades of losing almost seem to be one, too. Mike McKenry and Pedro Alvarez drove in two runs apiece and the Pirates looked pretty comfortable during their first day in first place, beating the Houston Astros 6-4 on Wednesday. The Astros have lost seventh straight and shipped veteran first baseman Carlos Lee to the Miami Marlins after the game as part of a rebuilding process. It's a process the Pirates know well, though it appears to be on its way to completion. Pittsburgh has won seven of eight to improve to 45-36 at the season's midway point, looking very much like a team that could stick around through the summer. "This stretch that we've had is awesome but I think this is very indicative of this ballclub," second baseman Neil Walker said. We knew the bats were going to start coming around, and when we did we knew we were going to score a lot of runs. Kevin Correia (5-6) will happily take the help. The 31-year-old pitched well early in the season but struggled to win as the offense limped out of the gate. Correia wasn't terribly sharp at muggy PNC Park but overcame a shaky start to give up three runs on six hits in six innings, walking two and striking out one to win at home against a National League team for the first time since joining the Pirates before the 2011 season. Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Kevin Correia delivers during the first inning of a baseball game against the Houston Astros in Pittsburgh Wednesday, July 4, 2012. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar) Close The Astros touched Correia for two runs in the second, but the hole lasted all of 15 minutes before Pittsburgh - which rallied from a four-run deficit to win on Tuesday - roared back to take the lead. "Normally the first month of the season, you give two runs early and you know it's going to be tight," Correia said. Now just have complete confidence that that's not a lead that's going to hold against us now. Joel Hanrahan pitched the ninth for his 21st save. Garrett Jones added two hits for Pittsburgh, which has its best record through 81 games since Barry Bonds was swinging for the fences at Three Rivers Stadium 20 years ago. "You get here for a reason, it just doesn't happen," Hurdle said. No one hits you with a wand and you end up in this spot. It hasn't been all high fives and walk-offs and giggles. There was some gnashing of teeth. Not on Independence Day. The Pirates found a way to solve Houston rookie Dallas Keuchel (1-1), one of the team's few bright spots of late. The left-hander was shipped to Triple-A Oklahoma City after the game so the team can bring up a reliever to help out a weary bullpen. Mills stressed the decision has nothing to do with performance. Keuchel gave up four runs in 5 2-3 innings, or one more run than he surrendered in his previous three starts combined. "I knew if I got the first three guys out consistently I would have a good shot and I made some bad pitches to the bottom of the order and they made me pay," Keuchel said after his ERA rose from 1.35 to 2.45. J.D. Martinez hit his 10th homer for Houston, while Scott Moore and Brian Bogusevic each had two hits, though it couldn't stop Houston from continuing its slide. The Astros are just 10-26 since moving within a game of .500 on May 25.