Framber Valdez controls emotions and throws jewel

HOUSTON — When the starting pitcher arrives at his best, added to the fact that he has an advantage since his second inning, the result of the equation is generally more than favorable.

So it happened, when Framber Valdez he reached the second inning and was already winning 3-0 and from then on he never looked back; he started his recital from the mound and his Houston Astros tied the World Series 1-1 with the Philadelphia Phillies.

The Astros beat the Phillies 5-2 on Saturday night at Minute Maid Park buoyed by early hitting over the starter and topped out 6 1/3 innings of just four hits, nine strikeouts and one run allowed by Valdez.

“Framber did what he’s done all year,” the receiver said. Martin Maldonado. “He got to throw strikes and aggressively attack the zone. That was the plan, simple as that. He executed as he can.”

True, Valdez had acknowledged that he wanted his revenge in the World Series, where he was far from successful before the opening this Saturday.

Last year he gave up 10 runs in the 4 2/3 innings he pitched over two games, neither of which even made it to the third inning.

“Emotions washed over me last year and they didn’t let me shoot,” Valdez said, after the win in Game 2 of this World Series. “You have to keep them separate from work, from baseball.”

“Now I realized that you can get excited, but do your job, get outs, throw innings and I learned that I get excited, but the work is separate,” he added. “Control emotions and instead of getting excited, I enjoyed it.”

A lot had to do with that support he had from the beginning. When in the bottom of the first inning, Jose Altuve opened the Texan batting with a double. He scored with another brace of Jeremy Penawho in turn also stepped on the register with a stick with two corners of Yordan Alvarez.

The Cuban took advantage of an error made by the Phillies to score in that same inning and immediately leave the score 3-0.

By the fifth, it was 5-0 with a home run by alex bregmanwhich left a score very similar to the previous day, although this time, starter Valdez and two relievers preserved the advantage, despite some scares.

“It was a big responsibility,” Valdez said. “We managed to draw and it means a lot to the team that we are 1-1 and focused. I think that with God’s favor, the team’s efforts are going to win, play hard as always and keep shooting”.

For Valdez it was even more special. His father was at the stadium for the first time to see him pitch since he came to the major leagues.

“It means a lot, it’s a valuable thing,” he said. “He didn’t want to come because he was afraid of planes. My mom does, it’s her second year, but I feel good that my family is here and she gives us strength to pitch.”

“I want to dedicate it to my dad who saw everyone on TV and now sees them in person and I feel proud. I dedicate this game to my dad.”

The Astros will travel this Sunday to Philadelphia, where the series will continue on Monday night.

“The objective was to equalize the series after losing the first game”, he commented. yuli gurriel. “Things today took more of their level. It gives the team a lot more confidence and now to prepare to keep the game in Philly.”

“We are much more confident,” he added. “It is not the same to go 0-2 than 1-1. As the series goes on, we get to know their pitchers a lot more, after which we have had to adapt because we didn’t know them that well either.”