Spanish
Pittsburgh, PA.— On a night that began over three hours late due to rain, the Houston Astros showcased their power and solidity to secure a resounding 8-2 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park. The triumph was led by a brilliant start from Dominican left-hander Framber Valdez, who struck out 11 batters in seven innings, and by the explosive bat of Mexican Isaac Paredes, who hit two home runs and drove in three runs.
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Valdez (6-4, 3.07 ERA) dominated the Pirates' offense with a lethal combination of curves and sinkers, limiting the damage to only two runs in his outing. This was his fourth consecutive win, solidifying his status as one of the most reliable arms in Houston's rotation.
“I focused on attacking the zone from the beginning. The wait was long, but it was worth it,” commented Valdez after the game, which began at 10:02 p.m. and ended past midnight.Paredes opened the fourth inning with a solo home run against Mitch Keller, igniting a four-run rally. Then, he punished again in the ninth with a two-run blast, his 14th of the season. It was his second multi-homer game in 2025 and the eighth of his career.
Rookie Jacob Melton, the Astros' No. 2 prospect according to MLB Pipeline, also shined with a two-run single in that same fourth inning, his first RBIs in the Major Leagues. The left fielder finished the night 4-2, making his potential clear after just four games in MLB.
With this victory, Houston took the three-game series against Pittsburgh, demonstrating once again their balance between offensive power, promising youth, and pitching dominance.
