Hampton wins eighth consecutive decision over Pirates in Astros’ 2-1 win

Astros’ Hampton beats Pirates again, 2-1

PITTSBURGH — Mike Hampton continued his mastery over the Pittsburgh Pirates, allowing only one run in seven innings in Houston’s 2-1 win on Sunday afternoon.

Hampton became only the second pitcher to win eight in a row against the Pirates since 1954. He improved to 12-3 lifetime against Pittsburgh and has won eight straight since May 9, 2000. Only the Braves’ Tom Glavine has had a streak that long against the Pirates in the past 55 years.

Miguel Tejada and Humberto Quintero each went 2-for-4 with an RBI for the Astros, who took two of three from Pittsburgh after arriving in here on a seven-game losing streak.

Chris Sampson retired the side in order in the eighth and LaTroy Hawkins pitched the ninth for his sixth save and first since May 14.

Nate McLouth homered for the Pirates, who have lost four of five.

Tejada — who extended his hitting streak to 14 games with a first-inning double — drove in the winning run with a bloop single into shallow right-center in the seventh. It was the third consecutive single of the inning for Houston, scoring Hampton to break a 1-1 tie.

McLouth led off the bottom of the first with a homer to right, his team-high ninth of the season and fourth time in his career he led off the first with a home run.

But from that point on, Hampton (3-4) outdueled Paul Maholm by allowing only three baserunners. Hampton retired 19 of the final 21 batters he faced — including the final 10.

Hampton threw 90 pitches in his seven innings — the longest he had gone in a game since Sept. 18 of last season. He hadn’t pitched seven innings and earned a win since Aug. 5.

Houston’s first run came in the second, when Quintero singled in Lance Berkman.

Maholm (3-2) was charged with both Houston runs — one earned — on eight hits and two walks in seven innings, striking out four.

He hasn’t won since April 22 and lost at home for the first time since Aug. 30.