HOUSTON – Framber Valdez speaks with enthusiasm that doesn’t reflect his 7.71 ERA in two starts this postseason, in which he has allowed 13 hits and six earned runs in a total of 7.0 innings against the White Sox and Red Sox.
Rather, the Dominican left-hander on Saturday expressed his desire to get back on the mound for Game 5 of the National League Championship Series in Boston next Wednesday against the Patirrojos — or possibly Game 4 on Tuesday with a three-day rest. , with 64 pitches made on Friday.
“I yearn for it 100%,” he said. “When things happen like those that happened to me yesterday, which I did not expect, I look forward to pitching to that team that caused me those damages, because they are small damages.”
The “damage” that the Patirrojos did to him on Friday in Game 1 of the SCLA were against the curve, Valdez’s flagship launch. The first was a solo home run by fiery Puerto Rican Red Sox outfielder Enrique “Kike” Hernández. The second was a double pusher from Ranger Hunter Renfroe. After all, Valdez threw just 2.2 innings, allowing six hits and three runs (two earned), striking out two batters and allowing three walks.
It’s fair to say that in the fateful third inning that sank Valdez, the left-hander could have escaped the inning with just one lap conceded, had it not been for a critical error by Venezuelan second baseman José Altuve.
Houston’s relief allowed just one more touchdown the rest of the way, and in the end, the Astros reacted to emerge victorious.
“The important thing was that we won,” said Valdez, who admitted after his presentation that he did not feel quite right about his curve, his lethal weapon. “Everything went away when we won.
“Makes you happy. It makes you more positive. It gives you more chances to shoot (with) more intensity for when you come back, for you to say, ‘I’m going to pitch with more intensity, stronger’, because the team solves when it has to solve ”.
Although Siderales manager Dusty Baker hasn’t wanted to think beyond a day or two in this series, Valdez looms as the logical choice to open Game 5 on Wednesday at Fenway Park – or perhaps the Game. 4 on Tuesday.
“I’m ready and I’m preparing for the next outing against them, to do my best and show that I am Valdez and that I can compete more from there.”
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