Houston has taken the first three games
Valdez returns to form as Astros lock up series against Red Sox
Jun 2, 2021, 10:10 pm
Framber Valdez returned to form on Wednesday night. Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images
Framber Valdez returned to form on Wednesday night.
Victorious in the first two games of this series, the Astros tried to lock up a series victory against the Red Sox by taking the third of four in this set on Wednesday night. They accomplished their mission, getting a couple of runs to back up Framber Valdez, who tossed an impressive start his second time out in 2021.
Final Score: Astros 2, Red Sox 1
Astros' Record: 31-24, currently tied for first in the AL West (Oakland A's in play)
Winning Pitcher: Framber Valdez (1-0)
Losing Pitcher: Nick Pivetta (6-1)
Both teams get lengthy firsts, Valdez rebounds for an impressive start
Boston's top of the first did not instill much optimism that Framber Valdez would be able to get a chance to get deep into the game and build upon the success of his first start the week prior. They sent seven batters to the plate, loading the bases with two outs as Valdez would walk a run in to make it a 1-0 Red Sox lead before getting out of it.
Houston gave him two runs to work with, getting a lengthy bottom of that same inning by loading the bases and getting a sac fly by Yuli Gurriel, then taking a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the fourth on an RBI groundout by Myles Straw. Valdez went to work to turn things around, retiring eleven in a row after that bases-loaded walk, not allowing another baserunner until a one-out single in the top of the fifth, which he would strand. He powered on by erasing a two-out single in the sixth and doing the same in the seventh, finishing his night with his tenth strikeout to cap off a seven-inning one-run performance. His final line: 7.0 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 10 K, 102 P.
Houston locks up the series win
Valdez's great start once again left Houston's bullpen with a short length to cover, and Ryne Stanek did his part in the top of the eighth by getting a 1-2-3 inning to hold the one-run lead. Ryan Pressly came on for the save opportunity in the top of the ninth, getting it by erasing two hits to close out the win and giving Houston the series victory with a chance at a four-game sweep in the finale.
Up Next: An afternoon game awaits these two teams for the fourth and final matchup of this series. It'll get underway at 1:10 PM Central and features Martin Perez (3-2, 3.55 ERA) for Boston going opposite Jake Odorizzi (0-2, 6.75 ERA).
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Apr 25, 2024, 1:11 pm
Dusty Baker has won the fourth Lifetime Achievement Award presented by Baseball Digest.
The beloved Baker retired following the 2023 season after spending 56 years in the majors as a player, coach and manager. He was honored Thursday with an annual distinction that “recognizes a living individual whose career has been spent in or around Major League Baseball and who has made significant contributions to the game.”
Willie Mays won the inaugural award in 2021, followed by Vin Scully in 2022 and Joe Torre last year.
“Receiving this award is a tremendous honor,” Baker said in a news release. “I never thought that I’d be in the class of the people that received this award. I know that my late mom and dad would be proud of me. This is really special.”
The 74-year-old Baker broke into the big leagues as a teenager with the Atlanta Braves in 1968 and played 19 seasons. He made two All-Star teams, won two Silver Slugger awards and earned a Gold Glove in the outfield.
He was the 1977 NL Championship Series MVP and finished fourth in 1980 NL MVP voting before helping the Los Angeles Dodgers win the 1981 World Series.
Following his playing career, Baker was a coach for the San Francisco Giants from 1988-92 and then became their manager in 1993. He won the first of his three NL Manager of the Year awards with the Giants that season and spent 26 years as a big league skipper, also guiding the Chicago Cubs, Cincinnati Reds, Washington Nationals and Houston Astros.
Baker took all those teams to the playoffs, winning 10 division crowns, three pennants and finally a World Series championship in 2022 with the Astros. He ranks seventh on the career list with 2,183 wins and is the only manager in major league history to lead five franchises to division titles.
In January, he returned to the Giants as a special adviser to baseball operations. Baker's former team is 7-18 under new Astros manager Joe Espada.
“On behalf of Major League Baseball, I am honored to congratulate Dusty Baker as the 2024 recipient of Baseball Digest’s Lifetime Achievement Award. He joins an incredible club," Commissioner Rob Manfred said. "Dusty represents leadership, goodwill, and winning baseball. His ability to connect with others, across generations, is second to none. He is a championship manager and player. But, most importantly, Dusty is an extraordinary ambassador for our national pastime.”
Baker was selected in voting by an 18-member panel from a list of candidates that also included Bob Costas, Sandy Koufax, Tony La Russa, Jim Leyland, Rachel Robinson and Bud Selig, among others.