(Sports Network) - The Pittsburgh Pirates have a chance to win their first road series since mid-May when they close out a three-game set against the Houston Astros this afternoon at Minute Maid Park.

Pittsburgh ended a three-game losing streak with last night's 6-3 victory over the Astros behind a four-run seventh inning and six strong frames from starting pitcher Paul Maholm.

Maholm held Houston to a pair of runs on six hits over six innings for the win, his sixth of the season. Matt Capps later threw a perfect ninth for his 19th save.

Jack Wilson ended with a pair of hits -- including a homer -- and three RBI, while Andrew McCutchen and Delwyn Young both drove in a run for the Pirates, who are hoping to win their first road series since taking three of four meetings at Washington from May 18-21.

"We're trying to take the stance where we need to play well in our division and we need to play well on this road trip," Pirates manager John Russell said on the team's site. "Guys realize where we're at."

The Pirates, who are 2-3 on a nine-game road trip through Florida, Houston and Philadelphia, will send Charlie Morton to the mound in Wednesday's series finale. Morton is 1-1 with a 2.65 ERA in four starts with the Pirates since being acquired from Atlanta. He won his most recent outing on Friday at Florida's Land Shark Stadium, where he tossed six shutout innings of one-hit ball. He also walked four and struck out four batters.

Morton, a right-hander, will face the Astros for the second time in his career and recorded a no-decision against them back on July 6, 2008 in a 7-6 win by the Braves at Turner Field. He was reached for six runs and eight hits over six innings with two strikeouts and a pair of walks.

The Astros are still alive in the NL Central race and sit 4 1/2 games behind St. Louis for the top spot in the division. They had a two-game winning streak halted and lost for the third time in five tries after last night's defeat.

Brian Moehler absorbed the loss for allowing four runs -- three earned -- on three hits and two walks in 6 1/3 innings. Tim Byrdak and Chris Sampson both gave up a run in relief for Houston, which got three hits out of Ivan Rodriguez.

Michael Bourn, Lance Berkman and Hunter Pence were each credited with an RBI in a losing effort. Berkman made a costly throwing error to home plate as well that led to the go-ahead score for the Buccos.

"We had the ball we needed to get out of the inning, or at least to get us closer to getting out of the inning, and I just made a bad throw," Berkman noted on the team's site. "It's the second time in as many homestands that I feel like I've cost us defensively -- and basically a game. We're going to have to start winning games like this. Moe pitched great but defensively we stunk, and the biggest blow was that bad throw."

Wandy Rodriguez will try to lift the Houston spirits when he takes the ball today for the Astros. Rodriguez is 2-0 over his last three starts and is coming off a win at San Diego on Thursday. He held the Padres to a run on seven hits and two walks with five K's over seven innings in a 7-2 victory.

Rodriguez, who improved to 7-6 in 17 starts this season, also pitched seven innings of one-run ball in a 4-1 victory at Minnesota on June 21. He will take on the Pirates for the second time this season and lost to them back on May 30 at PNC Park. The lefty surrendered five runs and nine hits in 4 2/3 innings and is 3-4 with a 5.37 ERA in 10 career starts in this series.

Houston is 7-4 against Pittsburgh this season and has won 13 of the past 18 matchups between the clubs.