PITTSBURGH — If only Mike Hampton could face the Pittsburgh Pirates in every start, he might regain the form that allowed him to be one of the National League's best pitchers a decade ago.

Hampton continued his mastery over Pittsburgh, allowing only one run in seven innings in Houston's 2-1 win on Sunday afternoon.

He became only the second pitcher to win eight in a row against the Pirates since 1954, improving to 12-3 lifetime against Pittsburgh. Only the Braves' Tom Glavine has had a streak that long against the Pirates in the past 55 years.

"I've played for so many teams and faced so many different lineups," Hampton said. "It'd been so long since I faced them (prior to his previous start against Pittsburgh in April) and the lineup turned over and there's a lot of new guys. I don't think there's anything to it other than I was fortunate enough today to make quality pitches and the defense played great behind me."

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.

"Hampton was very good today," Quintero said. "He threw everything for strikes. He threw sinkers, fastballs inside, sliders and changeups for strikes. I give credit to Hampton today. He won the game for us."

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.