HOUSTON (AP) — Yordan Alvarez hit a moon shot that sent Space City into a frenzy, and the Houston Astros to their second World Series title.
While the stain on Houston’s first championship might never completely fade, Alvarez’s majestic three-run homer helped fashion a fresh crown for the Astros -- and the first for Dusty Baker as manager -- in a 4-1 win over the Philadelphia Phillies in Game 6 on Saturday night.
HOUSTON (AP) — Framber Valdez swapped his glove and his spikes midgame. He repeatedly rubbed his hands.
By the time he strode off the mound to a standing ovation and handed the Houston Astros' bullpen a seventh-inning lead, it was clear he had thrown a curve at the Philadelphia Phillies.
HOUSTON (AP) — Philadelphia Phillies manager Rob Thomson says he isn't concerned about Houston starter Framber Valdez's unusual hand rubbing during Game 2 of the World Series, downplaying speculation on social media that the left-hander was up to something fishy during a dominant victory.
HOUSTON (AP) — Framber Valdez's World Series debut was a blast — for the Atlanta Braves.
Jorge Soler drove Valdez's third pitch of last year's opener in Houston into the Crawford Boxes in left field.
HOUSTON (AP) — Alex Bregman, Framber Valdez and the Houston Astros are off to a perfect start this postseason.
Taking the formula that won them 106 games in the regular season — strong pitching and hitting home runs — the Astros kept rolling against the New York Yankees.
HOUSTON (AP) — Astros starters Framber Valdez and Luis Garcia look like naturals on the mound, even in the hairiest of situations.
A lot of work to make it seem that easy — at the ballpark and, as it turns out, at the barber shop.
HOUSTON (AP) — Seattle’s Luis Castillo will oppose Houston’s Framber Valdez in Game 2 of their American League Division Series on Thursday.
It will be the second start of the postseason for Castillo, who won Game 1 of Seattle’s wild-card series against Toronto.
HOUSTON (AP) — Another strong start by Framber Valdez allowed the Houston Astros to end the regular season with the two winningest pitchers in the American League.
Valdez struck out 10 in five shutout innings to lead the Astros to 3-2 win over the Philadelphia Phillies in the regular-season finale Wednesday.
HOUSTON (AP) — Working closely with Framber Valdez, Houston catcher Martin Maldonado has enjoyed a front-row seat for the journey that has turned the left-hander into one of baseball's top pitchers in his fifth season.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Sandy Alcantara pitched his major league-leading fifth complete game, a seven-hitter that led the Miami Marlins over the Washington Nationals 3-1 on Sunday to avoid a series sweep.
DETROIT (AP) — Framber Valdez pitched his first career shutout and the Houston Astros beat the Detroit Tigers 7-0 on Monday night.
Valdez (15-5) posted his 24th straight quality start, tying New York Mets ace Jacob deGrom (2018) for the longest single-season streak.
HOUSTON (AP) — Corey Seager scored the go-ahead run on a wild pitch in the seventh and the Texas Rangers snapped a nine-game losing streak with a 4-3 win over the AL West-leading Houston Astros on Tuesday night.
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Jose Altuve homered to back Framber Valdez, who won his sixth straight decision, as the Houston Astros beat the Texas Rangers 4-2 on Tuesday night.
HOUSTON (AP) — Jose Altuve hit a leadoff homer and Trey Mancini added a two-run shot to back up another quality start by Framber Valdez, and the Houston Astros held on for a 5-3 win over the Minnesota Twins on Wednesday night.
CHICAGO (AP) — The Houston Astros got back in the win column after blowing late leads in consecutive losses — not exactly shocking considering they own the best record in the American League.
Framber Valdez threw solid seven innings, Yordan Alvarez drove in a run and scored one, and Houston beat the White Sox 3-2 on Wednesday night, ending Chicago's five-game winning streak.
DYERSVILLE, Iowa (AP) — Drew Smyly struck out nine in five scoreless innings, and the Chicago Cubs beat the Cincinnati Reds 4-2 on Thursday night in Major League Baseball’s second annual “Field of Dreams” game.
HOUSTON (AP) — After moving one-half game ahead of the slumping New York Yankees for the AL's best record with a win over the Texas Rangers, the Houston Astros were already looking ahead to their next challenge.
CLEVELAND (AP) — Trey Mancini hit two home runs, including his first career grand slam, to lead the Houston Astros past the Cleveland Indians 9-3 on Friday night.
Mancini, acquired from Baltimore on Monday, hit a solo homer in the second and capped the Astros’ five-run third against Hunter Gaddis (0-1) with a blast that cleared the 19-foot wall in left field.
MIAMI (AP) — Sandy Alcantara threw his major league-leading third complete game and the Miami Marlins beat the Cincinnati Reds 3-0 Wednesday night.
The All-Star right-hander allowed six hits, walked one and struck out three on 105 pitches for his third career shutout.
SEATTLE (AP) — Jose Altuve and Jeremy Peña hit back-to-back home runs off Robbie Ray to begin the game, and the Houston Astros roughed up the reigning AL Cy Young Award winner in an 8-5 victory over the Seattle Mariners that completed a three-game sweep Sunday.
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — The Oakland Athletics were held to four hits for a fourth consecutive game and made it hold up for for rookie Zach Logue in a 3-2 win over the Houston Astros on Saturday.
Oakland's batting average dropped to .209, on track to break the major league low of .211 set by the dead-ball era 1910 Chicago White Sox.
NEW YORK (AP) — Kyle Tucker had a three-run homer and a stolen base, Yordan Alvarez hit his 23rd home run and Framber Valdez pitched a gem to lift the Houston Astros over the New York Mets 9-1 Tuesday night.
NEW YORK (AP) — Kyle Tucker gave Astros starter Framber Valdez all the support he needed with a three-run homer in the first inning.
Houston piled on anyway.
“We scored early and we kept scoring,” manager Dusty Baker said.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Yordan Álvarez hit his 16th home run of the season and Framber Valdez won his fifth straight start for the Houston Astros, who beat the Kansas City Royals 7-4 on Sunday.
Álvarez led off the eighth inning with a 456-foot shot to right.
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Yordan Álvarez hit a pair of no-doubt homers, Framber Valdez pitched a two-hitter for a rare complete game and the Houston Astros beat the Oakland Athletics 5-1 on Monday.
After being held to five runs the previous four games, the Astros' bats woke up against Oakland ace Paul Blackburn (5-1).