The Houston Astros won their seventh game in a row and ninth in their last ten by blanking the Oakland Athletics 2-0 on Sunday.It was the Astros' second straight sweep, having previously taken three straight from the Chicago Cubs. With the win, Houston kept pace with the American League West-leading Texas Rangers, improving to 27-19 on the season, two games behind them.Houston Astros@astrosSunday. Shutout. Sweep.Final: #Astros 2, Athletics 01760298Sunday. Shutout. Sweep.Final: #Astros 2, Athletics 0 https://t.co/qXsAGgEdP0Starting pitcher Framber Valdez went the distance, tossing a four-hit complete game shutout at the Athletics while striking out seven. Oakland dropped to an MLB-worst 10-38 on the season with its eighth loss in the past 10 games.Zaky - Astros Vs all y’all 🔥@ZakyAstros@astros @cpenny81 Americas team. That is all. Thank you for listening.@astros @cpenny81 Americas team. That is all. Thank you for listening.UhuruDabs@uhurudabs@astros ASTROS STREAKING!! #Ready2Reign #Astros #HoustonAstros@astros ASTROS STREAKING!! #Ready2Reign #Astros #HoustonAstros https://t.co/0N5kZ4q5naJuan@Juan75069681@astros He is perfect and we love him151@astros He is perfect and we love him https://t.co/8xHOVOgdp8Houston Astros catcher Martin Maldonado told reporters after the game that Valdez was looking special in the pre-game warm-up. Maldonado said:"His warmup wasn't normal for him. He was doing some stuff where ... (I) was like, 'What is that?'"✭OUR YEAR✭@Quest_46@astros A complete Framboozling@astros A complete FramboozlingGoatstros@GoatStros@astros@astros https://t.co/DTjW79rsBdGoatstros@GoatStros@astros CY YOUNG SZN INCOMING19@astros CY YOUNG SZN INCOMINGIt was the second career complete-game shutout for Valdez, who bounced back from allowing seven hits and four runs over a season-low four innings against the Cubs on May 15. Valdez improved to 4-4 on the season with a 2.45 ERA.grandmasterM@psychobot_raz@astros Best pitcher in baseball11@astros Best pitcher in baseballScott Maier@samaier@astros Him…🏟️🏼 #Astros #Ready2Reign #FramberValdez41@astros Him…⚾️🏟️💪🏼 #Astros #Ready2Reign #FramberValdez https://t.co/shK911PO6xKatie@KatieOTDaily@astros So amazing to watch this guy pitch a complete game! And a shutout!!!1@astros So amazing to watch this guy pitch a complete game! And a shutout!!!After a difficult start to the season, the Astros appear to be hitting stride. The defending World Series champions. Houston currently has the fifth-best record in the AL, behind only the Rangers and the top three teams from the ultra-competitive AL East.zkzk409@zkzk409@astros @AirNatlGuard Took care of biz. Let’s keep it rolling1@astros @AirNatlGuard Took care of biz. Let’s keep it rollingHouston Astros take winning streak on the roadDusty Baker Jr. #12 of the Houston Astros looks on during the fifth inning against the Oakland AthleticsHaving not lost since a 3-1 setback at the Chicago White Sox on May 13, the Astros head back out on the road for a six-game set away from Minute Maid Park. Houston first travels to the Milwaukee Brewers for a three-game series before traveling to Oakland for another three-gamer against the Athletics.The Astros return to Houston on May 29 for three games against the AL Central-leading Minnesota Twins.