MLB: Houston, 2, Pittsburgh 1

PITTSBURGH, May 31 (UPI) -- Mike Hampton limited Pittsburgh to one run on three hits over seven innings Sunday in pitching the Houston Astros past the Pirates 2-1.

Hampton (3-4) struck out three and walked one en route to his 12th career win over the Pirates.

Paul Maholm (3-2) also lasted seven innings, giving up just one earned run on eight hits, but failing to win in his seventh consecutive start.

Things started off well for Pittsburgh when Nate McLouth led off the game with a home run for a 1-0 lead.

Houston answered with a run in the second on a two-out RBI double by Humberto Quintero and an RBI single by Miguel Tejada that proved to be the winning run in the seventh.

Hampton, meanwhile, retired the last 10 batters he faced before turning the game over to Chris Sampson and LaTroy Hawkins, who picked up the save.