PITTSBURGH -- After splitting the first two games of their interleague series, the Pittsburgh Pirates and Houston Astros will meet for the series finale Wednesday afternoon at PNC Park.Pittsburghs quiet bats awoke in a dominant 7-1 win against Houston Tuesday, while the Astros (65-61) shut down the Pirates (63-60) in a 3-1 victory the night before. Something will have to give Wednesday, with each team attempting to gain ground in their respective wild-card races.The Pirates came out strong Tuesday, starting the game with six straight hits, and will hope to repeat that performance.I mentioned to our offensive coordinator Jeff Branson that I liked the way he scripted his first 20 plays, Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said. I think well stick with that. We came and hit balls where they were pitched and took advantage of a sinkerballer who wasnt getting the ball down.Pittsburgh will hope right-handed pitcher Gerrit Cole (7-8, 3.30) can regain some of the control hes lost in recent starts when he opposes right-hander Collin McHugh (7-10, 4.99).Pittsburgh has lost in each of Coles past three starts dating back to a 5-3 win against the Atlanta Braves on Aug. 2. The Pirates ace, who has allowed at least three earned runs in each of those three starts, had a solid outing against the Miami Marlins on Friday, but allowed two home runs that cut his night short at 6 2/3 innings pitched, his longest start since recording his first career complete game July 27.Coles inconsistency wont be the only issue Pittsburgh will look to overcome, however. The Pirates floundering offense will try to find a spark and could against McHugh, who allowed seven runs, six earned, in three innings against the Baltimore Orioles when he last started Friday.McHugh has not won since allowing two runs through six innings of a 7-2 win against the Los Angeles Angels on July 23. Since that victory, he has gone past six innings once and went three or less twice, including when he surrendered eight runs in 1 2/3 innings pitched against the Detroit Tigers on July 29.Things could turn around for McHugh on Wednesday, though, if the Pirates offense cant build on its momentum from Tuesday.Entering Tuesday, Pittsburgh had failed to score more than two runs in each of its past three games. The Pirates had lost four in a row since taking five of six on their West Coast road trip last week, which included a three-game sweep of the San Francisco Giants.That changed against right-hander Joe Musgrove, when Pittsburgh peppered him for four runs in the first inning before outfielder Gregory Polanco took him deep for a solo home run in the third.The teams seemed to trade places Tuesday. While the once-dormant Pirates exploded, the red-hot Astros cooled.Houston had scored 35 combined runs over four consecutive wins entering the series middle game, but couldnt solve right-hander Ivan Nova.Astros shortstop Carlos Correa exited Tuesdays game late due to an illness, Houston manager A.J. Hinch said.Hes been sick. Half our team has been sick, Hinch said. We werent really doing much against them. We have a 12:30 game tomorrow, so pretty easy decision.Kris Letang Jersey . 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Hamelin, who triumphed in the 500 on Saturday, edged out Victor An of Russia by 0.021 seconds to maintain his lead in the World Cup standings. Russias Vladimir Grigorev was third. In the relay, Canada took control six laps from the finish line to beat Russia and the Netherlands.PITTSBURGH -- Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby is just happy to be back playing hockey again.His teammates feel the same way, as a goal from Crosby in his first appearance of the season was all the Penguins needed to overcome a slow startCrosby jump-started a comeback as the Pittsburgh Penguins rallied from an early two-goal deficit to beat the Florida Panthers 3-2 on Tuesday night.We started off behind the 8-ball there getting down, but we stayed in it and had a big second half, Crosby said.Crosby, who scored on the power play, missed the teams first six games with a concussion.Carl Hagelin and Eric Fehr also scored for the Penguins, who extended a seven-game unbeaten streak against the Panthers.Marc-Andre Fleury, who has started the first seven games of the season for Pittsburgh, stopped 20 shots. Matt Murray, who backstopped the Penguins to a Stanley Cup in June, served as the backup to Fleury after missing the first six games with a broken hand.Reilly Smith scored a power-play goal and Mark Pysyk also scored for the Panthers, who have lost 11 of 12 against the Penguins in Pittsburgh.James Reimer made 19 saves in his second start of the season.Panthers F Jaromir Jagr returned to Pittsburgh where he won two Stanley Cups and five scoring titles, totaling 1,079 points in 806 games from 1990-01.The Penguins honored Jagr, the No. 5 pick in the 1990 NHL draft, during Tuesdays morning skate with a commemorative plaque made out of material from the Civic Arena roof. The 44-year-old Jagr, who is in his 23rd NHL season, ranks third all-time in NHL history in goals and points.For the most part, it was a good game, especially the first two periods, Panthers coach Gerard Gallant said. I thought we played hard and played really well, but then we let it get away from us.Crosby cut the Panthers lead to 2-1 in the second period. Crosby, who was wide open in the slot, had to reach for a pass from Evgeni Malkin, but recovered to whip a shot from the slot over Reimers shoulder.I had some time, so you want to make sure you put that one in when you have that much time, Crosby said.Hagelin tied it in the third when he sent a shot underneath Reimers arm during a 2-on-1.Fehr put the Penguins in front for good when he one-timed a pass from Tom Kuhnhackl between Reimers legs.Crosbys goal was the catalyst.Crosby, the two-time MVP and reigning Conn Smmythe Trophy winner, hadnt played since sustaining a concussion in practice earlier this month.ddddddddddddCrosby participated in a full-contact practice Monday for the first time since suffering his third concussion in six years. And while Crosby called his participation in practice a major milestone in his recovery, he still feels theres more to improve upon as he works his way back.Ive been skating on my own, so its tough to get in any practices or game situations, Crosby said. I kind of expect that, but I feel like things kind of slowed down as the game went on.Despite the concussion, he forced his way into the action Tuesday when he recorded a hit on the first shift of the game.When you miss that much time, you just try to get involved early, Crosby said.Crosby described himself Tuesday morning as a game-time decision, but coach Mike Sullivan said the Penguins captain would likely make his season debut barring a setback after participating in the game-day skate.Sullivan was happy with the results.For me, he didnt miss a beat, Sullivan said. We got a huge boost from his goal. Were grateful we got him back in the lineup and were a better team when hes in there.Crosby, who captained Team Canada to a World Cup of Hockey championship last month, missed the better part of two seasons after sustaining a concussion in January 2011. He stressed he didnt panic when doctors told him of the latest diagnosis.The Penguins, meanwhile, went 3-2-1 with Crosby out of the lineup. He hopes its the last one he has to miss.Im just happy to be back, playing my first game, Crosby said. Hopefully, I can play the rest of the season here.Game notesJagr played his 1,635th career game, tying Scott Stevens for seventh all-time. ... Penguins D Kris Letang skated Tuesday with a no-contact jersey, but missed his third game with an upper-body injury. ... Penguins F Conor Sheary is not cleared to play and will be re-evaluated in a week. ... The Panthers played without Jonathan Huberdeau (lower body), Nick Bjugstad (upper body) and Jussi Jokinen (lower body). ... Penguins D Brian Dumoulin played in his 100th NHL game.UP NEXTPanthers: Continue a four-game road trip at Toronto on ThursdayPenguins: H