Valdez strikes out 10

Framber Valdez led the Houston Astros to a 5-4 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday by striking out 10 batters over six innings, earning his 10th win of the season. After a rocky second inning where he gave up four runs, Valdez settled down, allowing no runs over the next four frames. Mauricio Dubón's pinch-hit two-run homer in the sixth inning helped the Astros overcome a 4-3 deficit, snapping a three-game losing streak. The Pirates had initially taken the lead with a two-run homer from Joey Bart, but three costly errors by shortstop Oneil Cruz allowed Houston to score three unearned runs. Valdez concluded July with a 2.90 ERA and 40 strikeouts over 31 innings, while Josh Hader secured his 21st save of the season. The Astros will face the Texas Rangers next in a crucial series.