Valdez stretches winning streak to 10, Astros rally to beat Diamondbacks
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PHOENIX (AP) — Framber Valdez pitched seven effective innings for his 10th straight win, Brice Matthews hit his third homer in two games and the Houston Astros rallied to beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 3-1 on Tuesday night.
Valdez (11-4) allowed a run and seven hits to match Detroit's Tarik Skubal for the majors' longest win streak this season.
Matthews hit his first two big league homers in Houston's 6-3 win Monday night and launched a two-run shot off Jake Woodford (0-1) in the eighth. Jose Altuve scored on a wild pitch to put Houston up 3-1 in the ninth.
Diamondbacks starter Eduardo Rodriguez held the Astros in check before that, tossing 6 1/3 scoreless innings.
Arizona loaded the bases in the ninth, but Bryan King struck out Blaze Alexander and induced Jose Herrera into a game-ending double play for his first save.
Valdez was sharp before running into trouble in the sixth.
Randal Grichuk led off with a double, Geraldo Perdomo dropped a bunt single and Blaze Alexander followed with a run-scoring groundout. Valdez also worked out of a jam after giving up two leadoff singles in the eighth.
Rodriguez worked through traffic most of the night, getting some help from his defense.
Corbin Carroll made a sliding catch in center to rob Matthews of a hit in the second inning. Matthews lost another hit in the fourth when Arizona second baseman Ketel Marte flipped a slow roller with his glove on a play initially ruled a hit before being overturned.
Key moment
Houston third baseman Mauricio Dubón threw out pinch runner Alek Thomas at the plate in the eighth with the Diamondbacks leading 1-0.
Key stat
Valdez has not lost since May 2 against the Chicago White Sox.
Up next
Arizona RHP Brandon Pfaadt (10-6, 4.82) will pitch the series finale on Wednesday. The Astros have yet to name a starter.
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