▁the ▁L odi ▁D od gers ▁of ▁the ▁High - A ▁level ▁California ▁League ▁where ▁he ▁posted ▁a ▁ 1 – 2 ▁record ▁and ▁a ▁ 1 . 1 3 ▁earned ▁run ▁average ▁( ER A ) ▁in ▁limited ▁action . ▁The ▁D od gers ▁felt ▁that ▁Val enz uela ▁needed ▁to ▁learn ▁to ▁throw ▁an ▁off - speed ▁pitch , ▁so ▁they ▁had ▁D od gers ▁pitch er ▁Bobby ▁Cast illo ▁teach ▁him ▁to ▁throw ▁the ▁sc rew ball ▁before ▁the ▁ 1 9 8 0 ▁season . ▁In ▁ 1 9 8 0 ▁Val enz uela ▁was ▁promoted ▁to ▁the ▁Double - A ▁level ▁San ▁Antonio ▁D od gers . ▁There ▁Val enz uela ▁led ▁the ▁Texas ▁League ▁with ▁ 1 6 2 ▁strike outs , ▁finishing ▁the ▁season ▁with ▁a ▁ 1 3 – 9 ▁win - loss ▁record ▁and ▁a ▁ 3 . 1 0 ▁E RA . ▁ ▁Val enz uela ▁was ▁called ▁up ▁to ▁the ▁Los ▁Angeles ▁D od gers ▁b ull pen ▁in ▁September ▁ 1 9 8 0 . ▁In ▁the ▁last ▁month ▁of ▁the ▁season , ▁Val enz uela ▁helped ▁the ▁D od gers ▁to ▁a ▁tie ▁with ▁the ▁Houston ▁Ast ros ▁for ▁the ▁National ▁League ▁Western ▁Division ▁lead , ▁pitch ing ▁ 1 7 ▁sc or eless ▁inn ings ▁of ▁relief ▁over ▁the ▁course ▁of ▁ten ▁games , ▁during ▁which ▁he ▁earned ▁two ▁wins ▁and ▁a ▁save . ▁However , ▁the ▁D od gers ▁then ▁lost ▁a ▁one - game ▁play off —