Valenzuela Allows Astros One Run, but It’s Enough to Saddle Him With Loss

Lofty expectations always have accompanied Fernando Valenzuela when he takes the mound for the Dodgers, but recent shaky performances have deflated those suppositions to the point where merely a victory would be savored.

Thursday night, Valenzuela lugged his bloated 6.19 earned-run average over the last six games out against the Houston Astros and, under normal circumstances, pitched well enough to win.

But this has been anything by a normal season for Valenzuela, so maybe it wasn’t so surprising that he came away a 1-0 loser to Jim Deshaies and the Astros.

A crowd of 32,544 at Dodger Stadium did not witness vintage Valenzuela on this night but, despite working in and out of jams, he limited the Astros to only a single run in the third inning.

But all Valenzuela had to show for it was another loss, which evened his record at 5-5. Valenzuela, who hadn’t lasted beyond five innings in either of his last two starts, gave up 7 hits, struck out 6 and walked 5 in 9 innings.

“Fernando pitched great, but we didn’t support him,” second baseman Steve Sax said. “You don’t have any margin for error when you’re him. People expect so much. It’s like, they don’t think Fernando is human or something.”

As steady, if unspectacular, as Valenzuela was Thursday, it didn’t overcome the Astros’ pitching efforts.

Dodger hitters couldn’t sustain a rally against either Deshaies, who earned his fifth win in seven decisions, or relievers Larry Andersen and Dave Smith.

Against Smith, it was understandable that the Dodger bats were subdued. Smith earned his 12th save, making him a 12-for-12 in save opportunities this season. He has not allowed a run in 24 innings.

In an unprecedented move after the game that illustrated the Dodgers’ frustrations, Manager Tom Lasorda holed himself up in the trainer’s room and barred the media. The Dodgers always have provided media access to the training room after games.

When Lasorda finally emerged from the room, he explained why he and most of his players--including Pedro Guerrero and, for awhile, Valenzuela--stayed behind the closed door.

“I just wanted the players to be kept away (from the media),” Lasorda said. “I wanted them to be left alone tonight. It’s just a one night thing.”

Maybe Lasorda was searching for the club’s offense in the training room, because that’s where much of it was left before this series opener.

Two starters, shortstop Mariano Duncan (bruised left buttock) and Mike Scioscia (broken finger) have been sidelined for awhile, and slugger Mike Marshall was a late scratch with a strained left thigh muscle that has bothered him for almost a week.

Marshall’s loss was most strongly felt by the Dodgers. He had hit three home runs in the previous four games. After an examination by Dr. Frank Jobe, Marshall is expected to be lost for “a few games.”

Marshall might not have made a difference, but he certainly wouldn’t have hurt the Dodgers’ futile attempt to support Valenzuela.

If it’s any solace, though, at least the Dodgers know that their best pitcher of the decade has not permanently lost his stuff, as some opponents have speculated.

“I keep hearing that Fernando is not throwing good,” Astros Manager Hal Lanier said. “One run is a hell of a game by him. I don’t care what the Mets say (about him).”

The Dodgers had nothing bad to say about Valenzuela.

“You give up one run, you should win,” Lasorda said. “When Fernando has a couple bad games, people begin to wonder. But a lot of great pitchers lose a few in a row.”

For the first time in more than two weeks, Valenzuela was satisfied with his pitching, if not the result.

“Long time since I’ve thrown like tonight,” Valenzuela said. “But we didn’t win the game. For myself, it’s better now. Sometimes, I was behind the hitters and I made a few mistakes, but I’m happy.”

No one has doubted Deshaies’ pitching recently. Deshaies was equally as effective as Valenzuela, including his ability to work his way out of jams.

Deshaies, who gave up four hits and had four walks but lowered his ERA to 4.05, made it through 6 innings without allowing a run. But he certainly gave the Dodgers enough chances.

The Dodgers’ last of five scoring opportunities against Deshaies came in the seventh inning. Shortstop Dave Anderson had a leadoff single and took second on Valenzuela’s sacrifice.

Lanier then summoned Larry Andersen from the bullpen. Andersen got Sax to fly to center, with Anderson tagging up and advancing to third. That left it to John Shelby to try to tie it. But Shelby struck out, swinging wildly on Andersen’s last two pitches.

Andersen also pitched the eighth before giving way to Smith.

Dodger Notes

Fred Claire, the Dodgers’ vice president, said he hopes to make a decision about whether to sign free agent relief pitcher Terry Forster by the weekend. Claire said he will talk to Mark Polan, Forster’s agent, today to set up a tryout. Polan has been negotiating with Sam Fernandez, the Dodgers’ general counsel, earlier in the week. “This is something we want to address as soon as possible,” Claire said. . . . Claire also said he will contact Alan Hendricks, agent for free agent utility man Danny Heep, today. Should the Dodgers sign Heep, they would either have to move left-hand hitting Ken Landreaux or Len Matuszek. Landreaux is struggling through an 0-for-19 slump and draws little trade interest because he is in the final year of a $737,500 salary. Matuszek, on the disabled list since early May with torn tissue under his left foot, still isn’t ready to return, but Dodger trainer Bill Buhler says he is close.

Matt Young, sidelined the last four days with a strained ligament in his left elbow, played catch in the outfield Thursday and reported no pain. Pitching coach Ron Perranoski said the earliest Young will return will be Tuesday at San Diego. “He’ll throw off the mound (today), and if he comes out of that OK, he’ll throw again the next day,” Perranoski said. “Then, we’ll give him a couple of days off and then maybe he’ll be ready. The biggest thing right now is getting him mentally ready. He doesn’t feel anything in the elbow, but he’s had it before and maybe’s he’s thinking about it.” . . . The Dodgers signed Dan Opperman, their first-round pick in last week’s draft, Thursday. Opperman, a right-handed pitcher from Valley High School in Las Vegas, reportedly signed for $170,000, including a signing bonus. Opperman had some leverage in negotiations with the Dodgers, since he had accepted a baseball scholarship to the University of Texas. “There was no doubt the option of attending Texas was a real attractive option,” Jeff Moorad, Opperman’s Los Angeles-based agent, said. “But it was playing for the Dodgers and getting a signing bonus for what most first-round picks are getting was the deciding factor.” Opperman, who will report to the Dodgers’ rookie league affiliate in Great Falls, Mont., will donate a portion of his signing bonus to his high school alma mater as well as Texas, according to Moorad.