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.

Pittsburgh’s Mike Burrows held Houston in check into the sixth inning to pick up the first victory of his career as a starter as the Pirates topped the Astros 3-0