(Houston) Hours after his Houston Astros brought home star pitcher Justin Verlander on Tuesday, Framber Valdez went 0-0 in a 2-0 win over the Cleveland Guardians.

It was the 29-year-old Dominican’s first scoreless or hitless game and his 16th in Texas club history.

Verlander is the last to achieve the feat without the help of the next generation for the Astros. It was September 1, 2019 against the Toronto Blue Jays.

Valdez (9-7) needed just 93 pitches to make all 27 outs, including seven strikeouts. Only Oscar Gonzalez got to first base at his expense by virtue of a fifth-inning walk.

“The last two games I just wasn’t as focused as I could have been and I’ll be the first to admit that,” Valdez said in Spanish through a translator. But today I was very focused, very positive and just ready to leave it all on the pitch. »

Valdez now has six complete games and three career shutouts.

It’s the third game without a run or hit this season in major league baseball, but only a second by a single pitcher. Domingo German of the New York Yankees achieved it on June 28 against the Oakland Athletics.

Matt Manning, Alex Lange and Jason Foley of the Detroit Tigers shared the honors on July 8 against the Blue Jays.

A single from Kyle Tucker in the third was the source of the two runs in the match of the day. Jose Altuve and Jeremy Pena crossed home plate.