Framber Valdez bounces back with seven shutout frames in Astros’ big night vs. Rockies
After battling an uncharacteristic slump in August, Houston Astros ace Framber Valdez rebounded with a strong performance against the Colorado Rockies. In August, the left-hander posted a 7.33 ERA while registering zero wins. But in Wednesdayâs outing, Valdez found confidence on the mound.
In seven shutout innings, Valdez allowed just three hits and had five strikeouts. It marked his first win since July 22 as the Astros went on to win the game 4-0 and equal the series against the Rockies.
âIt felt good to go out there with the team and throw the seven shutout innings,â Valdez said. âIt was good to get that win for the team.â
Valdez’s start was well supported by the Astros’ offense. Jesus Sanchez drove in a run in the first inning, and then in the seventh, Cam Smith went deep for a solo home run. Finally, the Astros saw Yordan Alvarez hit a two-run shot in the eighth inning. It was the hitter’s just second game back since missing almost three months due to a fractured hand.
Astros interim manager lauds Valdez’s quality start after a whileWhat was more pleasing was a return of Framber Valdez’s signature curveball control, which generated 10 of his 17 whiffs. That signature curve, along with sinker, proved too much for the right-hander-dominant Colorado side.Â
âThatâs one of the best pitchers in the game, especially left-handed,â Rockies interim manager Warren Schaeffer said. âCurveball, sinker was really good. Curveball, he kept down, mixed well. Sinker both sides of the plate and stuck it in there when he needed to right-handed hitters. He kept us on the ground. He was just good. He was really good. We had no answer for him tonight.”
Coming into this game, Valdez had allowed 21 runs (19 earned) with a 12:10 K:BB across his past four starts (23.1 innings). Now, he looks forward to his next assignment, which could come against the New York Yankees next week.
