ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) _ Houston beat Dave Eiland on Wednesday, yet hardly damaged the right-hander's chances of winning a spot in Tampa Bay's starting rotation.

Eiland, who hadn't given up a run this spring, allowed an RBI double to Matt Mieske and Richard Hidalgo later homered off Chad Ogea to help the Astros beat the Devil Rays 3-0.

Chris Holt, Doug Henry, Kip Gross, Trever Miller and Jose Cabrera combined on the shutout for Houston, limiting Tampa Bay to eight singles. Holt allowed five hits and one walk in six innings. Gross struck out Jose Canseco with two runners on and one out in the eighth.

Eiland, competing with Ogea and three other right-handers for the Devil Rays' fifth starter's job, allowed three hits and struck out five in four innings. In 12 innings, covering five appearances this spring, he's given up one run on four hits, struck out 11 and walked one.

``I thought he threw the ball well again,'' said Tampa Bay manager Larry Rothschild, who's also been impressed by another candidate for the job, Esteban Yan. ``You know what you're going to get when Dave goes out there. It's very consistent.''

Eiland made a career-high 21 appearances for the Devil Rays last season, including 15 starts. In July, he beat Boston and Pedro Martinez for his first major league win in nearly four years and went on to finish 4-8 with a 5.60 ERA.

The 33-year-old right-hander said he's made a slight adjustment to his delivery and it has made a big difference this spring. With the start of the regular season less than two weeks, Eiland and Yan are the clear frontrunners for the No. 5 spot.

``There's really not a whole lot to say,'' Eiland said. ``I just went out there and did what I've been doing all spring.''

Actually, Rothschild might not have to decide between the two right-handers. Left-hander Wilson Alvarez has not pitched in nearly two weeks because of discomfort in his shoulder, which might free another spot in the rotation if he isn't ready by the end of camp.

Mieske's RBI double off Eiland sailed over the head of centerfielder Quinton McCracken in the second inning. Roger Cedeno had a run-scoring single in the fifth off Ogea, who then allowed Hidalgo's solo homer in the sixth. ^Notes: Holt has allowed four runs in 22 innings for Houston ... Rothschild said Alvarez threw long toss before the game and felt fine ... Greg Vaughn returned to Tampa Bay's lineup after missing three games with a quadriceps strain. He went 1-for-2 ... Gerald Williams, out a week with a sore elbow, was used as a pinch runner ... Devil Rays third baseman Vinny Castilla, slowed by a rib cage strain and the flu, has missed the last five games.