Framber Valdez, Robel García lift Astros over White Sox for sixth straight win

Framber did it again! On Saturday night, the Astros captured their sixth consecutive win as they defeated the White Sox on a 7-3 score, thanks in part to another wonderful performance by Valdez. Offensively, Robel García impersonated absent Alex Bregman with a key, bases-clearing hit in the third inning to cap a rally of four runs.

From the mound, Valdez didn’t let Chicago breathe. The left-hander, who won and is now 4-0 with a 1.67 ERA, completed seven innings of six hits and three runs (two earned). Framber gave up two walks and struck out five hitters.

The 27-year-old stud —who hasn’t lost a game since September 6— outpitched ace Lance Lynn and was in masterful control of his curveball, fooling rivals pretty often with it. In fact, each one of his five strikeouts came via his marvelous curve, as you’re going to see in the following video. Please, take a close look at the ones against Leury García —to end a threat— and Yermín Mercedes…

After kicking off the season with a four-inning start, Valdez has four consecutive outings of at least seven episodes, all quality performances. And even though he got in trouble in the seventh inning —allowing a solo shot to Andrew Vaughn and letting the White Sox score on a wild pitch— Valdez carried the team on his shoulders once again.

Offensively speaking, the game-changing hit belongs to García this time. The third baseman, replacing injured Bregman, got to the plate with bases loaded and two outs in the bottom third. Against Lynn, he hit a 96-mph fastball in the upper zone and sent it to right field to clear the bases and make it 5-1.

After García’s first double of the campaign, Michael Brantley recorded his 20th double of the season to drive in the Astros’ sixth run of the game. Then, in the bottom eighth, Carlos Correa hit his 13th four-bagger of the year and the 120th of his career.

This win combined with the Athletics’ loss vs. the Yankees to leave the Astros just one game short of first place in the AL West. They’ll try to sweep the White Sox (2:10 pm ET) with Lance McCullers Jr. on the hill on Sunday. Dallas Keuchel will pitch against his former team for the first time ever.