Astros Dominate Dodgers with 5-0 Victory

HOUSTON (AP) — In a commanding performance, Framber Valdez led the Houston Astros to a 5-0 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday night, striking out 10 batters over 6 1/3 innings. Valdez showcased his pitching prowess, effectively utilizing his sinker and breaking ball, while reaching speeds of up to 98 mph. Astros manager Joe Espada praised Valdez's efficiency and dominance on the mound, noting his ability to retire 16 consecutive batters after allowing a single to Shohei Ohtani to start the game. The Astros' offense was bolstered by home runs from Alex Bregman and Jon Singleton, alongside an RBI single from Joey Loperfido in the second inning. Loperfido also made a spectacular defensive play, robbing Ohtani of a potential extra-base hit in the third inning. Despite Ohtani's solid performance at the plate, going 2 for 3 with a walk, the Dodgers struggled to generate runs, marking their fifth shutout of the season. The Dodgers had a chance to rally in the seventh inning with runners on the corners and one out, but Bryan Abreu struck out Nick Ahmed, and Bregman executed a crucial tag on Kiké Hernández, who overran second base. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts acknowledged the challenge posed by Valdez, emphasizing the difficulty of building offensive momentum against such a skilled pitcher. On the mound for the Dodgers, Gavin Stone (9-4) allowed four runs on nine hits over six innings, continuing a trend of struggles as he has surrendered four runs in three of his last four starts. Meanwhile, the Astros received positive news regarding RHP Luis Garcia, who is recovering from right elbow surgery and threw a 35-pitch bullpen session on Friday.