Framber Valdez matched a franchise record with his 20th consecutive quality start and Chas McCormick had an RBI double to lift the visiting Houston Astros to a 3-2 victory over the Chicago White Sox on Wednesday.
Valdez (12-4) improved to 11-3 in that stretch after allowing two runs on seven hits while striking out six in seven innings. His 20 consecutive quality starts matched the streak of Mike Scott during the right-hander’s National League Cy Young Award-winning season in 1986.
Yordan Alvarez and Trey Mancini each had a sacrifice fly for the Astros, who mustered just five hits to rebound after dropping the first two contests of the four-game series. The teams conclude the set on Thursday afternoon.
Yoan Moncada had an RBI double, and Jose Abreu recorded his fifth straight multi-hit performance for the White Sox, who were unsuccessful in their bid to match a season-high six-game winning streak. Chicago had won six in a row overall from May 2-8.
Alvarez had a sacrifice fly in the first inning and Mancini added another in the fourth to stake Houston to a 2-0 lead. McCormick tacked on another run in the fourth after ripping a double to right field off Michael Kopech (4-9) to plate Kyle Tucker.
McCormick likely will see additional playing time after the Astros placed utility player Aledmys Diaz on the 10-day injured list with left groin discomfort.
Chicago trimmed the Astros’ advantage to 3-2 after scoring a pair of runs in the fourth inning.
Eloy Jimenez singled to lead off the frame and advanced to second on Abreu’s walk against Valdez. Moncada smashed a double to left field to plate Jimenez, and Josh Harrison’s double play two batters later scored Abreu.
Valdez benefited from a double play in the sixth and another in the seventh before exiting the game after 100 pitches.
Ryne Stanek worked around a one-out walk and single to strand both runners in the eighth inning. Ryan Pressly struck out two batters while retiring the side in order in the ninth to secure his 24th save of the season.
Kopech fell to 0-3 in his last four outings after yielding three runs on five hits in six innings.
–Field Level Media
