Pat Sullivan / AP

Umpire Tim Welke, right, signals no home run as home plate umpire Bill Welke, left, exits the umpires' tunnel after checking instant replay on a ball hit by Houston Astros' Hunter Pence to right field in the sixth inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Tuesday, Sept. 9, in Houston.

updated 10:43 p.m. ET Sept. 9, 2008

HOUSTON - Hunter Pence’s drive off the top of the right-field wall was confirmed as a double after an instant replay review by the umpires in the sixth inning of the Pittsburgh-Houston game on Tuesday night.

It was the second time instant replay was used since Aug. 28, when baseball started allowing umpires to use it to determine boundary calls. Both times, the on-the-field call was upheld. Last Wednesday, a home run by Alex Rodriguez was reviewed and upheld in the New York Yankees’ 8-4 win over Tampa Bay.

Pence hit a 2-2 pitch off Raul Chavez that appeared to hit the gold line on the top of the wall before it bounced back into play. First-base umpire D.J. Reyburn signaled that the ball was in play and Pence stopped at second.

Houston manager Cecil Cooper came halfway out of the dugout to ask home-plate umpire Bill Welke for a review. The crew convened near the pitcher’s mound and Welke and third-base umpire and crew chief Tim Welke left the field to look at a replay.

The umpires quickly reappeared and ruled the hit a double, prompting boos from the crowd. Pence drove in a run on the hit and the Astros led 9-2.