Detroit Tigers rookie Eduardo Valencia broke down in tears as he honoured his native Venezuela after his MLB debut on Thursday.
Valencia, a 26-year-old catcher who spent eight years in the Tigers’ minor league system, was called up in place of the injured Dillon Dingler. He entered as a pinch-hitter in the seventh against Hogan Harris and sent a 425-foot shot to center to cap a 4-1 win and help the Tigers seal their third straight series victory.
“I was so excited,” Valencia said in an interview with the Tigers broadcast before breaking down in tears. “This is for all Venezuelan people, for all my family, for everybody. They gave me everything. I was waiting a long time for this moment, it’s so exciting.”
Venezuela continues to mourn after a devastating earthquake struck last week, killing more than 3,800 people. Valencia’s parents were unable to travel to Detroit to see their son’s debut, but his wife was in the stands, and she ran up and gave him a long embrace after his interview.
Framber Valdez (5-6) had a season-high nine strikeouts, while allowing one run on three hits to earn the win. Kyle Finnegan worked the eighth, and Kenley Jansen the ninth for his 11th save.
Detroit has won five in a row and is 21-12 since June 1. The Tigers have climbed within 4 1/2 games of first place in the AL Central.
Jake Rogers and Zach McKinstry also homered for Detroit.
Rogers hit his third homer of the year, and second in two games, to left in the third to make it 1-0. McKinstry had a two-run shot to left in the fifth.
Jack Perkins (2-5) allowed three runs on two hits in three inning for the Athletics.
Henry Bolte drove in the Athletics’ only run in the fifth on a groundout. The Athletics’ Zack Gelof left the game in the third after injuring his knee crashing into the outfield wall.
Tigers RHP Jack Flaherty (2-8. 4.60 ERA) was set to start Friday night at home against Philadelphia and RHP Aaron Nola (3-6, 5.87). The Athletics had not announced a starter for their game Friday night in Chicago opposite White Sox RHP Sean Burke (5-4, 3.56).
With files from The Associated Press.