OAKLAND, Calif. -- After losing back-to-back games, the Houston Astros needed to win Wednesday to avoid a series sweep against the Oakland A's and to end their six-game road trip on a good note.

The Astros sent he right man to the mound to do exactly that.

Right-hander Doug Fister pitched seven shutout innings, and the Astros blanked the As' 7-0 at the Oakland Coliseum.

Fister (10-6) beat the A's for the third time in four starts against them this season, allowing four hits while striking out five and walking two. Coming into the game he had a 1.31 ERA over 20 2/3 innings against Oakland this season. He has now allowed three earned runs over 27 2/3 innings vs. the A's.

"Obviously his repertoire matches up OK with these guys, but it's still about executing pitches," Astros manager A.J. Hinch said. "You can have all the best game plans in the world. If you don't make pitches you're not going to have the success you should. He's got some confidence obviously. He's pitched well against these guys, as have some of our other guys. I think it's more about execution. When he executes it really doesn't matter what the other lineup is. He's pretty good."

The A's never got a runner past second base against Fister, who made his 17th career start against them, his most starts against any team.

Fister said that he and catcher Jason Castro met before the game and decided they were going to "attack" the A's hitters and make them swing the bats.

"Seeing them a lot, they know what we do, we know what they do," Fister said. "It just comes down to execution, and I was going to fill the zone up. Yes, I walked two guys, but in the end I'm going to let those guys run it down. Outfielders, infielders , everybody's playing well. Those are the kinds of things we want to do.

"Our guys are swinging it well. I want to get them back in the dugout so they can go back to swinging it. I want to get them off the field as soon as possible. Today was just a matter of filling up the zone and throwing the sinker."

Right-hander Chris Devenski blanked the A's on no hits in the eighth and ninth innings, striking out three.

Astros second baseman Jose Altuve went 2-for-3 with two walks and raised his major-league-leading batting average to .357. George Springer had two RBI doubles, scored two runs and walked; shortstop Carlos Correa went 1-for-2 with three walks and three RBIs. Jake Marisnick went 2-for-2 with a double and scored twice.

"It was a solid win today, all around," Correa said. "Good hitting, the pitching was great. Doug did an amazing job. The defense was there. We'll build on this win, try to keep on a good streak."

A's rookie right-hander Daniel Mengden (1-5) gave up three runs on five hits over five innings. He struck out five, walked five, threw one wild pitch and hit a batter. In his previous three starts, Mengden gave up a combined 16 earned runs, including six to the Astros in a no-decision on July 8 at Houston and six to the Blue Jays in a loss on Friday in Oakland.

"I was fighting the command a little bit," Mengden said. "Ups and downs. I couldn't really get in the groove for the first two innings but after that I felt a lot better and finished strong the last three. You always want to throw your best pitches, whatever pitch is working the best for you with the best conviction.

"The fastball was a little ragged today, so I think we went to the cutter and just got some tough outs. It's a tough lineup all the way around. Sometimes it's going to be a challenge. The walks killed me."

Josh Reddick went 2-for-4 with a double for Oakland, but he was one of the few A's who had success against Fister.

"He looked like he was on the corners, the knees," A's manager Bob Melvin said of Fister. "When he's down on the corners, it's tough to square him up."

The Astros grabbed a 1-0 lead in the first inning. Marwin Gonzalez bunted for a hit with one out and moved to second on Altuve's single. Mengden walked Correa, loading the bases. Luis Valbuena brought Gonzalez home when he grounded into a force out.

Houston added two runs in the second, making it 3-0. Mengden issued a two-out walk to Jason Castro, and Springer lined an RBI double off the out-of-town scoreboard in right field. Gonzalez walked and Altuve hit an infield single, loading the bases. Mengden walked Correa, forcing in Springer.

The Astros scored two runs in the eighth and two in the ninth.

"To salvage a game after the first two games is what you need to do," Hinch said. "You got to play in the moment, play today, not carry the baggage of yesterday into it and our team showed up ready to play today."

NOTES: Astros DH Evan Gattis was hit by a pitch on the back of his right hand in the fifth innings and left the game for a pinch hitter in the seventh. Gattis said X-rays were negative and he's day-to-day with a contusion. ... The A's recalled INF/OF Arismendy Alcantara from Triple-A Nashville prior to Wednesday's game. Alcantara started at second base against Houston. To make room for Alcantara on their 25-man roster, the A's optioned LHP Dillon Overton to Nashville. ... The A's have yet to announce a starting pitcher for Sunday's game against Tampa Bay, but A's manager Bob Melvin said that LHP Rich Hill is not a likely candidate. Hill left his start last Sunday against Toronto after five pitches when a blister on his left middle finger popped. ... Astros rookie 1B A.J. Reed made his eighth career start at first base since being recalled from Triple-A on June 25. Marwin Gonzalez, the Astros' primary first baseman, made his third start of the season in left field. Astros manager A.J. Hinch said he wanted to give Reed, a promising young player, another start at first. He went 1-for-3, struck out twice and committed an error.