HOUSTON -- Tuesday’s matchup between Framber Valdez of the Astros and Max Fried of the Yankees was billed as a battle of elite left-handers, but only one of the southpaws pitched like an ace.

Valdez, coming off seven scoreless innings against the Rockies on Wednesday, was rocked for six runs on a two-run homer by Jazz Chisholm Jr. in the second inning and a grand slam by Trent Grisham in the fifth as the Yankees clubbed the Astros, 7-1 , in the series opener at Daikin Park.

Despite the loss, the Astros remained three games up in the American League West over the Mariners, who lost to the Rays.

The Astros won 13 consecutive games started by Valdez from May 7-July 22, but they’ve dropped six of the last seven games he’s started. That’s a growing concern considering Hunter Brown and

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