Kennett High of Conway graduate Jeff Locke, called up by the Pittsburgh Pirates on Saturday, worked five innings and took the loss in Monday's 5-1 decision against the Houston Astros.

The lefty got off to a shaky beginning in his first big-league start of the year, giving up three consecutive singles to start the game at Pittsburgh's PNC Park.

The 24-year-old Locke gave up five earned runs on seven hits, including a three-homer by Brett Wallace in the fifth inning that gave the Astros a 5-1 lead.

Edgar Gonzalez threw 5 1/3 superb innings in his Houston debut, and Wallace finished with three hits in a rare victory for the Astros, who won for the fourth time in 20 games. The Astros also had lost 31 of their previous 35 road games.

Gonzalez (1-0) had not made a major-league start since 2009 with Oakland before the Astros signed him out of the Mexican League. The right-hander allowed one run on five hits and struck out five for his first big-league win since 2008 with Arizona.

Locke and Gonzalez were locked in a pitchers' duel until Wallace hammered a hanging curveball in the fifth that sailed 400 feet over the wall in right-center.

“That one pitch is the only thing that really sticks out for me,” Locke said. “Otherwise, a lot of positives to take away and into my next chance.”

The Pirates have lost 17 of 24, falling out of contention in the National League Central. They also slipped 2½ games behind St. Louis for the final National League wild-card spot. Pirates manager Clint Hurdle gave a positive review of Locke. He was also asked about the southpaw's “one bad pitch” to Wallace, who belted his seventh homer of the year.

“We always joke about that. It's kind of like, 'If I'd made a few putts, I'd have shot a 69. I shot a 75',” Hurdle said. “In Jeff's case, he did pitch well. He used his fastball very well, he changed speeds. He should walk away knowing he did some good things out there.”

Pittsburgh's lone run came in the fifth, when Pedro Alvarez tripled and scored on Clint Barmes' single.

Locke, overall, showed solid command, striking out six with one walk. He threw 76 pitches, including 58 for strikes. Locke would be eligible for the postseason roster if the Pirates qualified for the playoffs for the first time in 20 years.

With wire reports