Pittsburgh, PA -- (Sports Network) - Nate McLouth homered, and his two-run single capped a three-run eighth inning, sending the Pirates to a 4-3 win over Houston in a game that was delayed by rain for over three hours.

Adam LaRoche, who had three hits, homered during the eighth for Pittsburgh, which endured 3 hours and seven minutes of delays in the fourth and sixth innings.

The middle contest of the three-game set ended at 1:11 a.m.

"It was one game with the long rain delay, and we had another one," Pirates manager John Russell said. "They hung in there. We pitched pretty well late. We just gave ourselves a chance."

John Grabow (5-2) walked four batters over two innings, but managed to get the victory. Damaso Marte pitched the ninth for his third save as the Pirates won their second straight following a three-game skid.

Doug Brocail (4-4) surrendered three hits and was charged with three runs over two-thirds of an inning to suffer the loss.

Carlos Lee and Hunter Pence homered for the Astros, losers in seven of their last eight.

"We have three pretty long days, it's been pretty difficult for us," Astros manager Cecil Cooper said. "Sunday was 17 (innings), and yesterday was a long day for us, long ballgame (a 10-7 loss). Then tonight we come back and do it again. Pretty long three days, but tomorrow is a new day, we'll come out and battle again tomorrow."

Houston had two men on base in both the seventh and eighth innings, but came up empty.

Brocail retired the first two batters in the Pittsburgh eighth, but LaRoche then homered to right. Jose Bautista was hit by a pitch, and pinch-hitter Doug Mientkiewicz singled to left. Jack Wilson walked to load the bases before McLouth took a 3-2 pitch to right field, and the throw home was late as both Bautista and pinch-runner Luis Rivas scored.

Lee walked with two outs in the ninth, and pinch-runner Michael Bourn stole second. However, Miguel Tejada grounded back to the mound for the final out.

The Astros broke a scoreless game in the fourth with Pence's 11th home run of the season. With one out and the bases empty, Pence belted a 2-2 pitch over the center-field wall.

After a rain delay of 2 hours and 39 minutes, the Astros came back and increased their advantage to 3-0 in the fifth. With two outs and the bases empty, Lance Berkman drew a walk and came around one batter later on Lee's second homer in as many nights.

The Pirates finally got on the board in the fifth on a homer to right by McLouth, his 17th of the season.

Game Notes

The Pirates are 4-1 versus Houston this season...The teams combined to leave 21 runners on base, including 11 from the Astros...Houston starter Brandon Backe gave up three hits in three scoreless innings, while Pittsburgh starter Ian Snell was charged with four hits and a run in 3 2/3 frames. Snell, who had been sidelined with a right elbow injury, was activated from the 15-day disabled list before the game...Lee has an 11-game hitting streak.