Valdez-Diaz battery bounces back nicely: 'We worked well together'

TORONTO -- This time, it all went according to plan.

Facing a potential bullpen day to start their upcoming series in Minnesota, the Astros needed Framber Valdez at his best on Thursday afternoon. The left-hander delivered, partnering with catcher Yainer Diaz for the first time since late May to help Houston to a series-clinching 5-3 win over the Blue Jays at Rogers Centre.

Valdez pitched six innings with three runs allowed -- all in the first inning -- for his 10th quality start of the season. This wasn’t just a bounce-back from a shaky outing against the Mets in his previous start, but it was also an important reunion with Diaz.

“It had been a while since he last caught me, but we worked well together,” Valdez said in Spanish. “He did a good job and we communicated well. I have good rapport with all our catchers and I trust it’ll stay that way, the communication that we have.”

The last time the Astros sent out a battery of Diaz and Valdez, the starter was tabbed for eight earned runs -- seven of them in the fifth inning -- in a loss to the Angels on May 20. Valdez admitted to veering away from the game plan at the time, and he recognized that there were things to learn from his decision.

This start against the Blue Jays wasn’t without challenges, as evidenced by a 21-pitch first frame in which Valdez allowed four singles and a double for three earned runs. But he recovered, working with Diaz to hand in five scoreless innings with the help of four double plays.

“We were able to get out [of the first] because he calmed down,” Diaz said in Spanish. “We worked to calm ourselves down and to tell ourselves that there was plenty of game left. And right after that inning was done, I told him that it was just one bad inning and that from now on things would go over better. So, I think he came back with confidence and with a fresh mind and he was able to get a good result because of that.”

Rapport between pitchers and catchers isn’t built overnight, and chats like the ones Valdez and Diaz had after the first inning are the building blocks of trust.

“That’s the most important thing, trust,” said Diaz. “Because it gives you the versatility to use different methods to find something that works. So, if you have trust and a fresh mind, you can have different ideas and better develop a relationship with a pitcher.”

The 25-year-old Diaz, now in his second full season with the big league club, has done enough with his bat to warrant a near-everyday role with the Astros -- especially since Victor Caratini is still sidelined with a left hip flexor strain. He’s also showing enough maturity to work well with an accomplished Major League staff.

“I wanted to get them both working [together] again,” manager Joe Espada said before the game. “ … I gave Yainer a heads up a few days ago so they both could prepare, and I expect them both to be on the same page.”

That seemed to be the case for most of the outing, and the Astros (45-42) rode the partnership to their 12th win in their last 14 games.

Those six innings also allowed the Astros to be selective with their relief arms, something that will matter a bit more on Friday, when Shawn Dubin opens a bullpen game in Minnesota as the Astros await the return of Jake Bloss to round out their rotation.

It was all about getting Valdez to do what he does best.

“Double plays are one of my best friends in tough situations, like the ones I had in various innings [today],” said Valdez. “ … [After the first inning], I just had to concentrate and keep throwing all my pitches low in the zone to have success with each pitch.”

Valdez was quick to acknowledge the defense behind him, but he didn’t forget to highlight his own “excellent” defensive work in the third inning.

After allowing a walk to open the frame, Valdez used his reflexes to glove a 110 mph drive from Vladimir Guerrero Jr., tossing it to second as he fell backwards to get the lead runner before Jose Altuve flipped it back to first in time to throw out Guerrero.

Valdez couldn’t help but smile as he walked back up to the mound. He struck out the next batter to end the inning.