HOUSTON (AP) — After a less-than-stellar July during which he recorded a 7.29 ERA, Framber Valdez was resolute about elevating his performance this month.
He wasted no time in showcasing his determination on the opening day of August.
In a Tuesday night showdown, Valdez masterfully pitched the 16th no-hitter in the annals of Houston Astros history, securing a 2-0 triumph over the Cleveland Guardians.
“I must admit that in the last few games, my focus wasn’t as sharp as it could have been,” Valdez expressed in Spanish, with a translator conveying his words. “However, today I approached the game with heightened focus, a positive mindset, and a complete readiness to give my all on the field.”
Just hours following the Astros’ triumphant reacquisition of ace Justin Verlander from the New York Mets, Valdez exhibited his prowess by allowing merely one baserunner via a fifth-inning walk. Remarkably, he still faced the minimal number of batters due to a well-executed double play during that inning.
Manager Dusty Baker exulted, “It’s a day of sheer delight. (Valdez) burst forth with remarkable energy. His breaking ball was in play right from the outset… you could sense his focus and it endured throughout.”
The ninth inning began with Gabriel Arias grounding out, followed by Myles Straw’s center field lineout. The tense atmosphere was palpable as Cam Gallagher then hit a line drive straight to Jeremy Pena, bringing about a climactic end and igniting a jubilant celebration.
In a resounding victory, Valdez (9-7) joyfully thrust his arms skyward and broke into an exuberant applause, an enormous grin lighting up his face. This historic accomplishment marked Valdez as the first left-handed pitcher to achieve a no-hitter for the Houston franchise.
“When I reached the seventh inning, I had a thought that I could complete this game without surrendering any hits,” Valdez shared. “By the eighth inning, I still felt strong, as if it were the first inning. So, I decided to maintain my aggressive approach against the hitters and give it my all.”
Hailing from the Dominican Republic and at 29 years of age, Valdez had already notched five complete games under his belt, including two shutouts, before his extraordinary performance on Tuesday.
Catcher Martín Maldonado, who caught his third no-hitter, quickly perceived Valdez’s seriousness and focus during warmups, setting the tone for the impressive night ahead.
“He was all business right from his warmup in the bullpen,” Maldonado remarked. “He carried that intensity onto the field.”
Maldonado succinctly attributed Valdez’s exceptional success on Tuesday night to one key factor.
“Just Framber being Framber,” he remarked.
True to his signature style, Valdez heavily relies on inducing groundouts, and this game showcased no deviation from his usual approach. Valdez held the distinction of leading the American League in groundball percentage at 54.7%, and a notable 12 of his outs against the Cleveland Guardians were secured through groundballs.
“The movement on his two-seam fastball is evident, but his curveball is truly exceptional, and he even mixed in a couple of changeups,” commented Cleveland manager Terry Francona. “His curveball, in particular, was exceptional.”
This no-hitter marks the third of the current MLB season. New York Yankees’ right-hander Domingo Germán achieved perfection with a perfect game against Oakland on June 28, and Detroit Tigers’ Matt Manning, Alex Lange, and Jason Foley combined efforts for a no-hitter against Toronto on July 8.
For Houston, this is the first regular-season no-hitter since the collective effort of Cristian Javier, Hector Neris, and Ryan Pressly against the New York Yankees on June 25, 2022. Notably, it is also the first individual no-hitter by a Houston pitcher since Justin Verlander accomplished the feat against Toronto on September 1, 2019.
The Astros’ acquisition of Verlander was a strategic move as they pursue the Texas Rangers for the top spot in the AL West. On Tuesday, Texas secured a 2-0 victory against the White Sox, leaving Houston trailing by a mere half-game.
Manager Baker found it particularly poignant that Valdez achieved his individual no-hitter on the same day Verlander returned to Houston through the trade.
“It feels like destiny,” Baker remarked. “I’m certain Justin has a smile on his face right now as he’s on his way here. He’ll undoubtedly be the first to extend his congratulations to Framber upon his arrival. It’s an absolutely incredible day.”
Notably, Javier also played a role in a combined no-hitter during Game 4 of the previous year’s World Series against the Phillies on November 2, 2022. Bryan Abreu, Rafael Montero, and Pressly also contributed to that memorable feat.
The offensive spark in this game was provided by Kyle Tucker, who delivered a crucial two-run single during the third inning.
Valdez commenced by retiring the initial 12 batters, demonstrating his prowess with six strikeouts. However, a walk to Oscar Gonzalez to begin the fifth inning marked a slight deviation. Remarkably, Valdez still maintained the minimum batters faced in that inning, courtesy of a well-executed double play.
In the sixth, Arias initiated with a groundout, followed by Straw’s lineout. Gallagher then grounded out to round off the sixth inning.
The seventh inning witnessed Valdez retiring all three batters through groundouts, the first two being routine. A notable moment occurred when Valdez deftly deflected a high chopper from José Ramírez, with Pena’s throw narrowly beating Ramírez to first for the crucial third out.
Valdez started the eighth with a strikeout against Gonzalez, and he concluded the inning by inducing groundouts from David Fry and Will Brennan.
Across his remarkable performance, Valdez delivered 93 pitches, with an impressive 65 of them being strikes.
This exceptional showing follows a previous outing in which Valdez struggled, surrendering eight hits and six runs in a 3 2/3-inning span during a 13-5 loss to Texas.
Houston’s third inning commenced with Jake Meyers singling, but he was subsequently caught stealing after Maldonado struck out. Altuve’s single and Peña’s walk were accompanied by a wild pitch by Williams, permitting both runners to advance. Subsequently, Tucker’s center field single drove both runners home, elevating the Astros to a 2-0 lead.
On the opposing side, Cleveland’s rookie starter Gavin Williams (1-3) conceded four hits and two runs across five innings, resulting in the loss.
A noteworthy pre-game trade saw Josh Bell initially listed in Cleveland’s lineup, but he was scratched following a late deal that sent him to Miami in exchange for infielder Jean Segura and infield prospect Kahlil Watson.