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Framber Valdez, 'totally focused' after sluggish start to ALCS, carries Houston Astros to 3-2 lead

BOSTON -- As Houston Astros manager Dusty Baker walked out of the dugout in the middle of the fifth inning, Framber Valdez felt surprised.

Entering the fourth inning, Valdez was no-hitting Boston, rolling through the Red Sox lineup as Houston clung to a 1-0 lead in Game 5 of the American League Championship Series. But a single by Boston third baseman Rafael Devers broke up the no-no bid and a hit-by-pitch of designated hitter J.D. Martinez increased the inning's stakes with Boston's go-ahead run standing on first base.