BOSTON – Framber Valdez began the game with a statement. He threw the Boston Red Sox 12 consecutive sinkers to start Game 5 of the American League Championship Series on Wednesday, after which he and the Astros were back in the dugout with a 1-2-3 inning in the books. Why open the game without even a whiff of mystery or deception?
“That’s the pitch he feels most comfortable throwing strikes,” says Houston catcher Martin Maldonado.
Valdez typically throws his sinker 92.5 mph. These sinkers were angrier. They were zipping along at 94, 95, even 96 mph. Better still, the sinker slithered away from the barrels of the Boston bats with late, darting movement.