HOUSTON (Ticker) -- Rookie Julio Lugo's two-out RBI single in the bottom of the 10th inning lifted the Houston Astros to a 10-9 victory over the floundering Pittsburgh Pirates in another wild game at hitter-friendly Enron Field.

On the verge of their eighth straight loss, the Pirates rallied for three runs in the top of the ninth.

Closer Octavio Dotel began the inning by hitting Kevin Young before Enrique Wilson doubled to left, plating Young and cutting the deficit to 9-7. Warren Morris walked and Pat Meares singled to load the bases but Richard Hidalgo bobbled the ball in left, allowing Wilson to score.

Rookie Alex Hernandez struck out but Adrian Brown forged a 9-9 tie with a sacrifice fly, handing Dotel his fifth blown save. Dotel hit Jason Kendall before getting Brian Giles to fly to left, ending the disastrous inning.

"Dotel couldn't throw strikes, he was just walking guys and hitting guys," Houston manager Larry Dierker said. "It's a catch-22. When he tried to slow it down, they hit him and when he let it go he had no control."

Pittsburgh lefthander Scott Sauerbeck started the 10th by surrendering a leadoff single to Hidalgo and walking rookie Chris Truby. Rookie Mitch Meluskey popped out on a bunt attempt and Hidalgo, straying too far off second, was doubled off by catcher Jason Kendall.

"When Kendall made that play, I thought we were going to find a way to win it," Pittsburgh manager Gene Lamont said. "But that is how it has been going lately."

Pinch-hitter Tim Bogar worked a walk and Lugo slapped a single just out of the reach of shortstop Meares, giving Houston its third straight win.

"It gives me a good feeling and it's good for the team," Lugo said. "I've had more time to relax. I feel more comfortable. It's not easy to come in and perform like some of the other superstars. (Sauerbeck) threw me a good pitch. He didn't want to face the guys behind me."

"He hit a changeup and it found the hole," Sauerbeck said. "It wasn't hit hard but it will look like a line drive tomorrow."

Hidalgo and Truby blasted three-run homers in the the first and third innings, respectively, to stake the Astros to a 9-3 lead before starter Jose Lima and Dotel squandered the advantage.

Houston's Jeff Bagwell went 2-for-4 with a walk, two runs scored and an RBI. Bagwell has scored 286 runs over the last two seasons, the most in the major leagues since fellow first baseman Lou Gehrig amassed 305 runs for the New York Yankees from 1936-37.

Bagwell also became just the second player in history to compile 100 walks, 100 runs, 100 RBI and 30 homers in five straight seasons. Chicago White Sox first baseman Frank Thomas accomplished the feat from 1993-97.

The Pirates had won eight in a row prior to their current season-high losing streak.

"It's a tough way to lose it after coming back from six runs down," Lamont said. "Our bullpen was great. The Astros just got the big hit when they needed it and we didn't."

Pittsburgh starter Jose Silva was pounded for nine runs and five hits over three innings, but got off the hook when the Pirates rallied against Lima and Dotel.

Staked to an early advantage, Lima was reached for six runs and 14 hits over 7 1/3 innings. He watched from the bench as Dotel gave away what would have been his fifth win in his last six decisions at Enron Field.

Truby, who drove in five runs in Saturday's 16-7 rout, capped a five-run third inning outburst with his 10th homer of the year. The blast gave the Astros a team-record eight players with 10 or more homers.