HOUSTON -- Ronel Blanco threw a no-hitter in his first start of the season and was the breakout star of the Astros’ rotation in the first half of the season. Hunter Brown has been among the most effective pitchers in the game since June 1 and is having the best season of his career while leading the Astros in strikeouts.

But any debate about who the Astros’ ace pitcher is in 2024 still starts and ends with veteran left-hander Framber Valdez, who won his eighth consecutive decision by throwing seven scoreless innings Sunday afternoon to send Houston to a 2-0 win over the White Sox at Minute Maid Park.

"I feel very proud of all the work I’ve been able to do and the team has been able to do,” Valdez said. “I take pride in getting a team win and try to be consistent every time I go out there."

Valdez (13-5) improved to 8-0 with a 2.39 ERA in his last 10 starts -- all of which the Astros have won. Sunday’s win was Houston’s 10th victory in its past 11 games, and it remained four games ahead of the Mariners atop the American League West.

"That’s what we expect out of Framber, just quality start after quality start,” Astros manager Joe Espada said. “His stuff is unbelievable -- fastball, breaking ball, everything in the zone. Strong performance."

Valdez struck out nine batters and allowed three hits -- all singles -- and one walk and was pulled after only 82 pitches, with Espada choosing to turn things over to his bullpen. Bryan Abreu pitched a scoreless eighth and Josh Hader worked a 1-2-3 ninth to stretch his team record to 27 consecutive save conversions.

“Getting our starter to take us deep in the game is very important,” Espada said. “It allows us to get those guys in the bullpen a breather and keep them fresh for this long stretch. Any time we can get our starters to do what they’re doing, it’s really good. I have to be smart in how I use my starters and how long I keep them in there because this is a long stretch [18 games without a day off] and we’re about to play some pretty good teams.”

Houston’s next 14 games come against teams in contention, including three against the Red Sox beginning Monday at Minute Maid Park (the Astros swept three at Fenway Park earlier this month). That’s followed by a road trip to Baltimore (four games) and Philadelphia (three games).

The Astros will be going to a six-man rotation soon with Justin Verlander -- speaking of aces -- expected to come off the injured list after missing more than two months with a neck ailment. He could pitch on Wednesday against the Red Sox.

Valdez, meanwhile, has benefitted from utilizing his curveball more in the second half. He threw it only 26.7% of the time through his first 14 starts (through June 29), but has thrown it 37.3% of the time since, including 33 of 82 pitches (40%) on Sunday.

"It opens up the lanes for his sinker and his changeup,” Espada said. “Those pitches move east to west, [and] now when you add the breaking ball and something working down the zone, it gives the hitter another pitch to worry about. It’s a very uncomfortable at-bat.”

The White Sox managed only three singles against Valdez and never got a runner past first base in the game. A double-play grounder wiped out one of those runners, and Valdez struck out three in a row after Nicky Lopez began the game with a single.

"He had that curveball working,” White Sox interim manager Grady Sizemore said. “He had a good feel for that tonight. When you are throwing the 95 sinker with some movement, with that curveball, it’s a tough matchup. I thought we had a couple of good at-bats, just hit it right at guys. He was tough, and then the back end of that bullpen is good, too.”

Astros catcher Yainer Diaz was robbed of a three-run homer in his first at-bat on a catch over the right-field wall by Dominic Fletcher, but Diaz walloped a solo homer off starter Ky Bush to lead off the sixth and give Valdez the only offense he needed.

"I’m not going to lie, that felt really good,” Diaz said. “I’m also very happy and very proud of myself that I didn’t let that first at-bat get to me. I’m going to go out there and have really good at-bats and try to battle."