MLB
Who stole Framber Valdez’s “no-hitter show”?
The Houston Astros starter got 26 outs, but Corey Seager hit a two-run homer.
Framber Valdez came within a whisker of becoming just the second player in the franchise to throw two no-hit games by beating the Texas Rangers 4-2. The Houston Astros starter got 26 outs, but Corey Seager hit a two-run homer off him. Josh Hader replaced him and completed the win by getting Josh Jung out of action with a fly ball to right field.
The pitcher’s night ended after 107 pitches against Rangers batters. Valdez recorded five strikeouts in his no-hitter attempt: Corey Seager in the first, Josh Jung in the second and seventh, Adolis Garcia in the fifth, and Ezequiel Duran in the sixth.
The Astros’ star starter allowed just four walks on base, three of which were his fault. The first was Jonah Heim in the fifth inning. What seemed like a 5-3 out ended in a throwing error by Alex Bregman, and the Rangers catcher reached first base safely.
The Dominican did not negotiate his first walk until the seventh inning. Valdez threw wide balls to Marcus Semien. To start the ninth, he gave a walk to Robbie Grossman but got out of trouble with a 5-4-3 double play after a Duran grounder. The run that accompanied Corey Seager was scored by Josh Smith, who had been on his way to first base moments before after four bad pitches by the Houston pitcher.
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Astros bats accompanied Framber Valdez
The Dominican pitcher’s 11th win of the year could not have been achieved without the outstanding performance of the Astros’ hitters. Jake Meyers opened the scoring with a fly ball to right field in the fourth inning, with which Jeremy Peña could score.
The Houston outfielder added the second with a line drive to left field in the sixth inning; Peña ran from second base to put another run on the scoreboard.
Yordan Alvarez extended the lead for the ‘Stros in the ninth inning with his 21st home run of the year and 150th of his career. The Cuban player found Dane Dunning’s pitcher and sent it to the right field at Globe Life Field so he and Bregman could score.