Pittsburgh, PA (My Sportsbook) - Mike Hampton pitched a solid six innings, and Carlos Lee knocked in three runs to lead the Houston Astros past the Pittsburgh Pirates, 4-1, in the middle installment of a three-game series at PNC Park.

Houston, which snapped a five-game losing streak, had four runs on eight hits after recording a combined zero runs and seven hits in its previous two outings (Sunday and Monday).

Hampton (1-1) fanned eight batters and walked just one for the Astros, who improved to 2-6 on the season. Hampton, who allowed just four singles, improved to 11-3 all-time versus the Pirates. He also won his seventh straight start against Pittsburgh dating back to 2000.

"It was nice to get a lead early, go out and pitch well and get a win for us," said Hampton. "It's just something I think we needed. Hopefully it gives us momentum and it will continue."

Jose Valverde gave up a homer to Adam LaRoche to start the ninth, but didn't allow any more runs in the frame to secure the victory.

Miguel Tejada went 3-for-4 with two runs scored for Houston. Lance Berkman went 2-for-4 and scored once, while Hunter Pence had an RBI.

Ross Ohlendorf (0-2) tossed five innings, giving up four runs on eight hits for the Pirates, who won 7-0 in the opener of the series on Monday.

"My sinker is my main pitch and I need to get better contact with it and today they were able to hit it well," said Ohlendorf. "I think next time will go a lot better. Certainly today didn't go as planned."

LaRoche powered Pittsburgh's offense with a home run. Nate McLouth had a pair of hits and a walk.

Ohlendorf got off to a shaky start, allowing the first three batters of the game to reach base. Michael Bourn walked, Tejada singled, and Berkman singled. Lee hit a sacrifice fly to deep left field, allowing Bourn to score. Berkman advanced to second and Tejada to third on the play. Pence followed with a sacrifice fly to score Tejada, giving Houston an early 2-0 lead.

The Astros added two more runs in the third to pad their margin. Following a Tejada infield single to begin the inning, Berkman doubled off the right- field wall. With Berkman on second and Tejada at third, Lee stroked a two-run double to left field.

Pittsburgh threatened for the first time in the sixth. Luis Cruz singled to right field, but Nyjer Morgan and Freddy Sanchez struck out to follow. Nate McLouth's broken-bat infield single set up first and second with two outs. Ryan Doumit drove a fastball to deep left, but Lee caught the ball at the wall to end the frame.

The Pirates had two runners on with two outs again in the seventh, but relief pitcher Geoff Geary got Cruz to pop out to shortstop Tejada.

LaTroy Hawkins tossed a scoreless eighth for the Astros.

Game Notes

Pittsburgh dropped to 4-4 on the year...Hampton faced the Pirates for the first time since September 7, 2003, thanks to some injury-plagued seasons...The Astros placed pitcher Brian Moehler on the 15-day disabled list with a sprained right knee on Wednesday...The Pirates acquired outfielder Delwyn Young from the Los Angeles Dodgers in exchange for two players to be named or cash considerations on Wednesday.