HOUSTON — Houston closer Jose Valverde said his face was “a little sore” Saturday but that he was otherwise OK after getting struck in the face with a line drive a night earlier in a 4-3 win over Philadelphia.
“Everything is good,” Valverde said.
The line drive by Pedro Feliz grazed Valverde’s glove before smacking into his right cheek and ricocheting into left field. Valverde lay motionless for a few minutes, then hopped up and finished the game, earning his 15th save.
He had a headache and mild dizziness afterward and met with a team doctor. He woke up Saturday morning ready to pitch again, though Astros manager Cecil Cooper was leaning toward sitting him out on Saturday.
“That was pretty amazing stuff he did last night,” Cooper said. “He might just need a night to just think about it all.”
Valverde hadn’t watched a replay yet. His wife, Luisa, has seen it several times.
“I want to see it,” Valverde said with a smile, “but not right now.”
Valverde led the majors with 47 saves last season with Arizona. He was traded to the Astros for infielder Chris Burke and pitchers Juan Gutierrez and Chad Qualls.
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