Valdez pitches Jays to win over Oakland

In a Blue Jays season short on happy endings, unheralded pitcher Cesar Valdez authored his own feel-good story Tuesday night.

The 32-year-old righthander from the Dominican Republic recorded his first majorleague win in more than seven years as Toronto defeated the Oakland Athletics 4-1.

No wonder he called it a career highlight.

“I’ve played everywhere, I’ve been everywhere,” Valdez said through an interpreter. “I’ve been in the big leagues and the minor leagues. Coming off the mound today and having the fans screaming and congratulating me was something really nice.”

Valdez (1-0) exited to a standing ovation after yielding a double to open the seventh before an announced crowd of 40,624 with the Rogers Centre roof open on a pleasant night.

Valdez’s baseball journey has taken him from Arizona to Pittsburgh, Florida, Toronto, Houston, Oakland and Toronto again with a stop in the Mexican league and a year out of baseball along the way.

His only other win came in his major-league debut May 3, 2010.

Filling in for the injured Aaron Sanchez, Valdez gave up one run on five hits with four strikeouts and one walk in a surprisingly smooth 77-pitch outing featuring 51 strikes.

Valdez stole the spotlight from Oakland starter Sonny Gray, with scouts on hand eyeing the 27-year-old Athletics right-hander ahead of Monday’s non-waiver trade deadline.