Framber Valdez shows growth in Tigers' home opener

Framber Valdez pitched six scoreless innings in the Tigers' 4-0 home-opening win over the St. Louis Cardinals, allowing three hits with five strikeouts.

Framber Valdez started the Detroit Tigers' home opener at Comerica Park and took the mound to a sold-out crowd. He delivered a composed performance that drew on his reputation for inducing groundballs and logging innings. The outing followed a career that included multiple Opening Day starts and strong recent workloads. The game underscored why the Tigers signed him this offseason. Game and performance details: - Valdez worked six scoreless innings, allowing three hits, issuing two walks and recording five strikeouts. - The Tigers beat the St. Louis Cardinals 4-0 in the home-opening game. - A throw to first tipped off Valdez's left hand and was ruled an error; he reported the pain eased after about 10 pitches and remained in the game. - Valdez induced weak contact throughout, retiring six of his final seven hitters and ending a bases-loaded jam with a lazy fly to left for the third out. - The article notes that over the past four years he led all left-handed pitchers in innings, quality starts, strikeouts and wins, and that he has started multiple Opening Days. Summary: Valdez's outing reinforced his role as a stabilizing presence in the Tigers' rotation and helped the team end an early skid. Undetermined at this time.