Valdez ends seven years of tough luck
Blue Jays spot starter took a circuitous route to his second major-league win
Cesar Valdez left the mound at the Rogers Centre on Tuesday night to a standing ovation, turning a spot start in the wake of Aaron Sanchez’s most recent disabled list stint into a sixinning clinic that helped the Blue Jays earn their first back-to-back wins since early July.
It had been seven years since the 32-year-old earned his first majorleague win in his debut with the Arizona Diamondbacks. It took him seven years to get back to the majors on a road that had stops in Mexico, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic and Venezuela. Valdez called his second victory, the 4-1 win over the Oakland Athletics, one of the top moments in his career.
“I’ve played everywhere, I’ve been everywhere. I’ve been in the big leagues, the minor leagues. Coming out of the mound today and having the fans screaming and congratulating me, it was something really nice,” said an emotional Valdez, who credited his late father as the driving forcing behind his decision to remain in the game despite ups and downs along the way.
On paper, it looked to be a tough night for the home team. Valdez had made one previous start since the Blue Jays claimed him off waivers from the A’s in early May. He lined up against Oakland ace Sonny Gray, who could command a valuable return for his current club by next week’s trade deadline.
But Valdez allowed just one run and five hits over six innings, the longest outing of his career.
He had plenty of help early, when the Jays took advantage of some Oakland miscues in a four-run second inning.
Justin Smoak led off the inning with a double, moved to third when Gray threw a Kendrys Morales comebacker over second, and scored on a Troy Tulowitzki groundout.
Ezequiel Carrera reached base on an infield hit as shortstop Marcus Semien’s throw forced Yonder Alonso off the bag and, after advancing to second on a wild pitch, he and Morales scored on Goins’ two-out double to left.
Jose Bautista, snapping an 0-for-17 slump, brought Goins home with another double.
Goins’ double gave him 16 hits and 32 RBIs in 50 at-bats with runners in scoring position this year. He can’t account for his success in those clutch situations.
“I guess I’m really lucky this year. Just not lucky with nobody on, so maybe that’ll start changing too,” Goins said.
A two-out RBI double by Khris Davis in the fourth frame pulled one back, but following Valdez’s exit, Joe Smith, Ryan Tepera and Roberto Osuna held down the fort, allowing just two hits and a walk between them.
The A’s pulled one back on a pair of doubles from Matt Joyce and Khris Davis in the fourth inning but couldn’t get closer. Relievers Joe Smith, Ryan Tepera and Roberto Osuna pitched three shutout innings, with Oakland mustering just one more hit.