Houston Astros

Astros starter Lucas Harrell allowed four hits and a walk over seven innings but it wasn't enough in a 1-0 loss to Jeff Locke and the Pirates.

Pittsburgh combined for a three-hitter to leave Harrell (3-5) with the loss, his third straight since winning three in a row. He struck out three and his only mistake was a solo homer to Pedro Alvarez in the fifth inning. 

Harrell has allowed one earned run in six of his 10 starts this season and two or fewer runs in seven of his 10 outings. But he's also allowed five or more runs in each of his other three starts. 

Harrell makes his next scheduled start Saturday against Oakland. 

Astros top prospect Jonathan Singleton is almost finished with his 50-game suspension for a second failed drug test, MLB.com reports Sunday. He will begin his season next week at Class A Quad Cities. 

Singleton is expected to move quickly to Triple-A Oklahoma City as the top prospect in the organization, as ranked by MLB.com. 

The left-handed hitting first baseman hit .284 with 21 homers and 79 RBI over 131 games with Double-A Corpus Christi. He could push for playing time with Houston later this year. 

Astros shortstop Ronny Cedeno was scratched from the game at Pittsburgh Sunday, MLB.com reports. Cedeno has a sinus infection and is considered day-to-day. 

Cedeno, who is batting .281, is 0 for 6 in the last two games. He has a home run and nine RBI in 57 at-bats. 

Making his return from the bereavement list, Astros second baseman Jose Altuve had three hits in five at-bats against the Pirates Saturday night. He also drove in a run.

Altuve, who has also been dealing with a jaw injury, has hit .342/.378/.449 in 172 plate appearances.

Astros closer Jose Veras closed out the 11th inning of a 4-2 win over the Pirates Saturday night. He struck out one in a perfect inning for his sixth save.

After allowing five runs in 4 2/3 innings over his first five appearances, Veras has scoreless outings in 11 of his last 12 appearances. He has a 3.71 ERA and has converted 75 percent of his save opportunites.