"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.

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.

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