HOUSTON — Valdez had the pleasure of working with a 3-0 lead after Astros third baseman Alex Bregman launched a three-run home-run over the Minute Maid Park left-field porch in the third frame, but a half-inning later in the top of the fourth, the Yankees began mounting a formidable offensive.

The Yankee’s Aaron Judge started the inning before designated hitter Giancarlo Stanton bounced a hit to the mound. Valdez took a step off the mound to field the ball, which bounced off the heel of his glove onto the ground. As Stanton made his way toward first base, Valdez scrambled, diving for the ball and making a throw toward first while dropping to his knees. The ball got past Astros first baseman Yuli Gurriel into right field, and in an instant Valdez had runners on second and third and no outs.