Valdez, Paredes Lead Astros to 8-2 Win Over Pirates

Friday, June 6th, 2025

Astros Defeat Pirates 8-2 Behind Strong Valdez, Paredes Homers

Framber Valdez pitched seven strong innings, Isaac Paredes homered twice, and the Houston Astros beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 8-2 after a lengthy rain delay on Thursday night.

Valdez (6-4) won his fifth straight decision. He limited the Pirates to two runs on five hits with three walks and a season-high 11 strikeouts. This performance came after waiting out a delay that pushed the start of the game back 3 hours and 22 minutes. The left-hander is now 5-0 with a 1.72 ERA in his last six starts.

Paredes hit his 13th homer of the season leading off the fourth against Mitch Keller (1-8). His 14th, a two-run shot in the ninth, helped seal the game. Jeremy Peña added three hits and drove in a run for the Astros. The shortstop is batting .361 since moving to the leadoff spot on April 27.

Jake Melton, who made his major league debut last weekend against Tampa Bay, had two hits, including a two-run single against Keller in the fourth.

Keller had been pitching well despite receiving the lowest run support in the majors. The right-hander wasn't quite as crisp against the Astros, giving up six runs on eight hits in 6 1/3 innings as his ERA crept up to 4.19.

Jared Triolo had two hits and scored twice for the Pirates, who have dropped four of six.

Key Moment

The Pirates were down two and had runners on the corners with two outs in the fifth when Valdez fanned Andrew McCutchen on a curveball, ending the threat.

Key Stat

9 — the number of runs Pittsburgh has scored in Keller's last starts.

Up Next

Astros: head to Cleveland for a three-game weekend series starting Friday when Colton Gordon (0-1, 5.95 ERA) faces Cleveland's Logan Allen (3-3, 4.22).

Pirates: welcome Philadelphia for a three-game set beginning Friday. Bailey Falter, who posted a 0.76 ERA across six starts in May, starts the opener for Pittsburgh.

In summary

The Houston Astros defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates 8-2 after a rain delay. Framber Valdez earned his fifth straight win with a strong seven-inning outing and 11 strikeouts. Isaac Paredes hit two home runs, including a two-run shot in the ninth, contributing significantly to the Astros' offense. Mitch Keller took the loss for the Pirates, allowing six runs. Jeremy Peña and Jake Melton also added key hits for Houston. The win improved Valdez's recent record, while the Pirates' struggles continued.

Related Links

• Houston Astros News & Updates
• Houston Astros Schedule & Scores
• Pittsburgh Pirates News & Updates
• Pittsburgh Pirates Schedule & Scores
• MLB News