Framber Valdez pitched seven strong innings, Isaac Paredes homered twice, and the Houston Astros beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 8-2 after a lengthy rain delay.

The Pirates fall to 23-40 overall and 14-18 at home with this defeat to the Astros, who improve to 34-28 and 12-16 on the road. A rain delay moved first pitch from 6:40 p.m. to 10

PITTSBURGH - After waiting out the rain, the Houston Astros won a series behind a surging starter. Framber Valdez spun seven strong innings. An offense shut out a night earlier stirred. And the Astros won 8-2 in the rubber game of a series against the Pirates on Thursday at PNC Park.