(AP) - Jeff Karstens has given the Pittsburgh Pirates a perfect start.

Almost a perfect game, too.

The recently acquired right-hander retired his first 23 batters before Chris Young's two-out double in the eighth inning and finished with a two-hitter Wednesday in a 2-0 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Karstens (2-0) has not allowed a run in 15 innings since coming to Pittsburgh on July 26 in a six-player trade that sent outfielder Xavier Nady and reliever Damaso Marte to the New York Yankees.

Karstens was in complete command until Young lined a clean double down the left-field line. Stephen Drew singled with two outs in the ninth for Arizona's other hit.

The 25-year-old Karstens outpitched Randy Johnson, who tossed baseball's most recent perfect game in May 2004.

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