Valdez on complete game: 'It was a challenge I hadn’t done before and a goal of mine'

The Houston Astros began their road series against the Oakland Athletics on Monday (May 30) with a 5-1 victory over their American League (AL) West foes and a complete game (CG) from starting pitcher Framber Valdez, per a report on the Astros' website. 

By definition, a complete game is when a team's starting pitcher works the entire game without relief. 

The left-handed Valdez surrendered two hits and logged a pitch count of more than 100 as part of the rare feat, per the team.

According to the report, despite the A's Cristian Pache getting to first base on a walk to lead off the bottom of the ninth, Valdez was able to fan the next three batters to secure the CG.

“It feels good,” the Dominican hurler said in the report. “It was a challenge I hadn’t done before and a goal of mine, one of the goals I told myself I wanted to do, one of many. I want to continue hitting those goals.”

Valdez's arsenal consisted of mostly sinkers and curveballs, per the report.

A’s manager Mark Kotsay described Valdez as a "bulldog."

"Tough day for us, offensively," Kotsay said, according to the report. "But you have to tip your cap to the opposing starter.”

Offensively, the Astros were buoyed by two homeruns (HR) from designated hitter Yordan Alvarez and a two-shot HR from second baseman Jose Altuve, The Associated Press reported, according to Houston NBC affiliate KPRC.

Alvarez's first HR soared 469 feet to the second deck of what's known as Mt. Davis at Oakland Coliseum while his second traveled 444 feet.

Altuve's HR tied him with former teammate George Springer at 174 on the franchise's all-time list.