Valdez working through control problems

CHICAGO — Control is crucial for Framber Valdez, be it with his pitches or peace of mind. Continued work with a sports psychologist allows him to remain calmer on the mound when things go awry. Better command of his curveball and sinker have transformed him from average to awesome.

Keeping Valdez centered is crucial. He veered off course to conclude the first half. Valdez walked 13 batters in the final 16 innings he threw during the first half. He posted a 5.06 ERA in those three starts. Opponents had an .866 OPS against him, but a wholly unsustainable .413 batting average on balls in play.

“I just felt like I was trying to do too much a little bit, trying to get the best quality out of all my pitches,” Valdez said Saturday through an interpreter. “I think that led me down a path of being a little anxious on the mound, but I worked on controlling those emotions and being in a better place so my next outing I’m not as anxious.”

Valdez matched his season-low with four innings in his last start. Few remembered it after Jose Altuve’s walk-off home run lifted the Astros to an 8-7 win against the New York Yankees. Valdez walked six, surrendered six hits and forced Houston’s vulnerable bullpen to record 15 outs.

In three starts since July 1, Valdez has thrown only 55 percent of his pitches for strikes. He had a 63 percent strike rate in his first seven starts of the season — a span of 381⁄3 innings in which he walked nine batters.

The Astros need that version of Valdez for the remainder of the season, starting on Sunday against the White Sox. His ability to work deep into games is a godsend for a team without José Urquidy and innings concerns with Luis Garcia. Valdez spent his All-Star break working on his mechanics and finding a more measured pace.

“I was just working on slowing down my rhythm,” Valdez said. “I think I was getting a little more ahead of myself and getting a little too quick with some of my rhythms. That let my arm drop a little bit and I wasn’t executing my pitches exactly how I wanted to. I worked on just having the rhythm of my pitches and making sure I was on time and in line with my pitches coming toward home plate.”

Greinke feeling better after break

CHICAGO — Though the Astros have not “solidified” their starter for Monday’s game against the Cleveland Indians, Zack Greinke informed manager Dusty Baker he is “feeling good” following a bout of shoulder soreness.

Greinke is scheduled to start Monday’s game, but Baker acknowledged the club has the plan in pencil. Greinke threw in the bullpen at Guaranteed Rate Field before Friday’s 7-1 win against the White Sox.

“So far, so good,” Baker said. “Greinke said he felt good when I talked to him yesterday. We haven’t solidified that start, but he told me he was feeling good.”

Greinke lasted only four innings in his final start before the All-Star break, after which he revealed nagging shoulder soreness. The 37-year-old righthander threw 1151⁄3 innings during the first half of the season, trailing only Oakland’s Chris Bassitt for the American League lead.

Reliever struck in rehab outing

A line drive struck Astros

reliever Josh James in the upper back during his minor league rehab appearance with Class AAA Sugar Land on Friday. James stayed in the game after sustaining the blow but only finished one-third of an inning on nine pitches.

“The plan wasn’t for him to just go nine pitches,” manager Dusty Baker said. “Evidently, he must have been affected by that.”

James, who underwent hip surgery last October and suffered a hamstring injury earlier this season, has made six rehab appearances since June 25. The two preceding Friday’s outing lasted longer than an inning. James threw 31 pitches on July 12 in a twoinning stint.

Baker had no further updates on James or whether Friday’s incident will set him back. James has not pitched in the major leagues this season.

Isotopes surge past Skeeters

C.J. Hinojosa homered and drove in three runs, but the Albuquerque Isotopes beat the Sugar Land Skeeters 10-7 on Saturday in Albuquerque, N.M.

Jake Meyers’ secondinning homer gave the Skeeters (35-27) a 5-4 lead before he and Hinojosa hit RBI singles to make it a 7-4 game in the fourth, but the Isotopes (26-36) scored six runs over the next three innings to retake the lead.

Brett Conine started and allowed seven runs on six hits with four walks and six strikeouts over five innings, while Austin Hansen allowed three runs on three hits with two walks and two strikeouts, taking the loss after three innings of work.

Ian Clarkin gave up three hits over 32⁄3 scoreless innings for the win.