James McDonald pitched 7 1/3 strong innings and Ryan Doumit had a three-hit day as the Pittsburgh Pirates topped the visiting Houston Astros, 3-1, on Monday afternoon.

Derrek Lee added his 16th home run and Josh Harrison chipped in an RBI single for the Pirates, who have won three of their last four.

The Astros have dropped four straight to fall to 47-94. They are within three of matching the franchise record for losses in a season.

McDonald (9-7) yielded just one run on three hits while striking out six to snap a three-start winless streak. The righthander dropped his ERA below 4.00 (3.98) for the first time since July 25.

Henry Sosa (2-3) started for the Astros and kept Pittsburgh off the board until the fourth, when Doumit’s RBI double knotted it at 1-1 and Harrison followed with his hit to put the Pirates ahead.

Lee blasted a solo shot to the opposite field in the eighth and has seven RBIs in three games since returning from the disabled list.

Joel Hanrahan made it interesting in the ninth, walking a batter and allowing two hits, but managed to lock down his 35th save.