The transformation of Charlie Morton continues and the right hander was dominant in the Pirates 6-1 victory over the Houston Astros. Morton (4-1) worked 7 2/3 innings while allowing seven hits and one run to win consecutive starts for the first time in his career. Morton pitched seven straight shutout innings, showing excellent command, striking out five and walking one. “When my mechanics are right, I can throw all my pitches for strikes,” Morton said. “Not just the sinker, but the curveball and the changeup and everything.” Manager Clint Hurdle had high praise for Morton after the game. “He threw a lot of first-pitch strikes, got a lot of quick contact and an ocean full of groundballs,” Hurdle said. “He had a very good sinker, was repeating his delivery and was living in the strike zone. He mixed in his breaking ball to keep them honest and his four-seamer to change eye levels.”