Valdez strikes out eight in seven innings, Astros limit A’s to two hits in 3-0 win

HOUSTON (AP) — Framber Valdez struck out eight in seven strong innings and combined with Seth Martinez for a hit, and the Houston Astros beat the Oakland Athletics 3-0 on Wednesday for their game-high fourth straight victory of the season.

Valdez (3-1) allowed both hits and walked two. The left-hander recorded 11 groundouts.

“I was throwing strikes, keeping the ball in the zone and trying to control the runners,” Valdez said through an interpreter.

Valdez has given up two runs or fewer in four of his last five starts. He said he knew it was important to go deep in the game after Houston had to use five relievers the following Tuesday. The expulsion of Ronel Blanco to start the fourth round after a foreign substance test.

“It was a really good performance,” Houston manager Joe Espada said. “We needed Framber to get us deep into the game, and he did that. It was a very, very good job.

Martinez made his first save of the season.

Oakland’s only hits against Valdez were a weak infield single by JD Davis in the fourth and Shea Langeliers’ single in the seventh. The A’s have lost four games in a row.

Oakland manager Mark Kotsay called Valdez’s performance “vintage Framber.”

“He had his best tonight,” Kotsay said. “His changeup, his slider, his curveball. He was in front of our right-handers with the lead. When he gets into rhythm, it’s hard. We shot a lot of ground balls.

The A’s put runners on first and second in the ninth following an Alex Bregman error and Tyler Soderstrom’s walk, but Langeliers grounded into a double play to end it.

Jose Altuve singled in the top of the first, had reached third on Kyle Tucker’s double and scored on a throwing error by Zack Gelof, who was trying to get Tucker at second. Tucker scored on Bregman’s sacrifice fly two batters later.

Mauricio Dubón added a sacrifice fly in the fourth to make it 3-0.

Aaron Brooks (0-1) allowed three runs on seven hits with five strikeouts in seven innings in his first start since September 13, 2019, while with Baltimore. This was his first appearance in a major championship since April 28, 2022.

“He does a great job managing (the game), he throws strikes,” Kotsay said. “He gave us a chance to be in the game.”

TRAINERS ROOM

Athletics: LHP Alex Wood was placed on the 15-day injured list with left rotator cuff tendonitis and LHP Brady Basso was optioned to Triple-A Las Vegas to make room for Brooks on the list. The A’s also recalled LHP Hogan Harris from Las Vegas. INF Darrell Hernaiz (left ankle) was moved to the 60-day injured list to clear a spot on the 40-man roster.

Astros: OF Chas McCormick (right hamstring discomfort) went 0 for 4 in a start for Double-A Corpus Christi in his third game of an injury rehab assignment.