Houston's Jimmy Paredes (38) slides into home to score as Pirate pitcher James McDonald (53) covers during the Bucs' 2-0 loss to the Astros Wednesday night.

HOUSTON — Pittsburgh starter James McDonald continues to give the Pirates good starts.

The Pirates, however, couldn’t give McDonald any support against Houston starter J.A. Happ and one inning doomed the right-hander as Pittsburgh continues to struggle.

Happ allowed three hits and struck out six over seven innings and the Astros beat the Pirates 2-0 on Wednesday night for a sweep of the three-game series.

McDonald (8-7) allowed seven hits, two walks and struck out six in six innings. He had won five of his previous seven decisions.

McDonald has gone at least six innings in five of his last six starts and has a 3.93 ERA since Aug. 4. Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said he thought McDonald pitched very well.

In the fourth inning the Astros pieced together two runs on a groundout and an infield hit.

Jimmy Paredes walked to start the fourth and Angel Sanchez singled, sending Paredes to third.

Humberto Quintero hit a dribbler in front of home plate and was thrown out at first with Paredes scoring. Paredes started to go home on the play, but Pittsburgh catcher Ryan Doumit looked him back.

After Doumit threw to first, Paredes broke for home, and Garrett Jones’ throw to the plate was too far up the line for McDonald, who was covering the plate, to make a play.

“I saw as soon as Doumit went to throw that he (Paredes) had a good jump, so I tried to throw and get rid of it quick,” Jones said. “I think James couldn’t get his feet set and the throw was up the line a bit. It’s a bang-bang play.”

Hurdle said Doumit made the right play to stop Paredes, look him back and throw it to first.

“We have to be able to execute throwing the ball 90 feet,” Hurdle said.