Pittsburgh, PA – The Houston Astros showcased their offensive power and mound solidity to defeat the Pittsburgh Pirates with a score of 8-2 at PNC Park, in a game that was delayed more than three hours due to rain.
Valdez and Paredes: Dynamic Duo of Houston
The victory was led by an outstanding performance by Dominican left-handed pitcher Framber Valdez, who struck out 11 batters in seven innings. The explosive hitting of Mexican Isaac Paredes was also key, hitting two home runs and driving in three runs.Valdez (6-4, 3.07 ERA) controlled the Pirates’ offense, limiting the damage to just two runs. This was his fourth consecutive victory, solidifying his position as one of Houston’s most consistent pitchers.
I focused on attacking the zone from the beginning. The wait was long, but it was worth it.
Framber Valdez
The game, which began at 10:02 p.m. and ended past midnight, saw Paredes start the fourth inning with a solo home run against Mitch Keller, starting a four-run rally. Subsequently, in the ninth inning, he hit another two-run homer, adding his 14th of the season.
It was his second multi-home run game in 2025 and the eighth of his career.Rookie Jacob Melton, the Astros’ No. 2 prospect, according to MLB Pipeline, also had a standout performance with a two-run single in the same fourth inning, his first RBIs in the Major Leagues. The left fielder finished the night 4-2, showing his potential after only four games in MLB.
With this triumph, Houston secured the three-game series against Pittsburgh, demonstrating its balance between offensive power, young prospects, and dominance on the mound.
