"That's (Valdez's) game, and he was going to stay out there, and he was going to decide the fate of his own game," manager Joe Espada said.

After the start of the game was delayed three hours, 22 minutes by rain, Houston Astros left-hander Framber Valdez made short work of the Pittsburgh Pirates. Valdez struck out the side in the first in

Kansas City Royals veteran right-hander Michael Wacha had allowed no more than three earned runs in any of his previous six starts before Monday -- yet had just two victories to show for his efforts.