Dodgers : Winner Sutton, Loser Valenzuela Are Both Satisfied

At the same time that Fernando Valenzuela was facing the Montreal Expos in front of several thousand fans at West Palm Beach Stadium Saturday, teammate Don Sutton was pitching in the silent obscurity of a “B” game on an adjacent field.

Without question, Sutton has worked under more favorable conditions. Because of overnight rain, the pitching mound resembled a sand dune, and Sutton certainly could have used mud flaps for his cleats.

But if Sutton considered it a distraction or a comedown, it didn’t show. He pitched five innings for the first time this spring, allowing two runs and eight hits to the Expos. He struck out one and did not walk a batter. Since it was only a six-inning game, it also may have been the closest Sutton has come to pitching a complete game in quite awhile.

“I would have liked to extend myself more,” Sutton said. “But the work I got in with runners on in the fourth and fifth (innings) kind of gave me more work. All in all, it was a good workout. I think I’ve gotten better and feel more confident each time I pitch.”

Had Saturday’s “B” game--a 3-2 Dodger win on a three-run home run by Tracy Woodson--counted in spring training statistics, it would have improved Sutton’s record to 3-0 this spring. In 15 spring innings, Sutton has allowed 4 earned runs, 16 hits and 4 walks.

“Today is the first time I’ve had more command on my curveball,” Sutton said. “I think the only glaring thing that stopped it from being a good prelude to the opener is that I made too many two-strike pitches.”

Even at 42, Sutton said he still has things to learn. He recently received some help on the mechanics of his delivery from Sandy Koufax at Dodgertown.

“He’s kind of like E.F. Hutton--I always listen to him,” Sutton said of Koufax.

Meanwhile, in the regularly scheduled game, the Dodgers lost to the Montreal Expos, 4-3.

Valenzuela pitched a spring-high six innings, giving up two runs and two hits. They were the first runs Valenzuela has allowed in 17 spring innings.

Both runs allowed by Valenzuela were solo home runs, by Nelson Santovenia and Andres Galarraga. But Valenzuela also impressively worked out of a fifth-inning jam in which the Expos had runners on second and third and no outs.

“Those were fastballs they hit (for the home runs), and they didn’t come inside enough,” Valenzuela said. “But I thought I pitched well. I feel fine and I’m happy with how I pitched. My arm feels strong and I feel OK.”

Dodger Notes

Craig Shipley, who is hitting .692 in regular spring games, had two of the Dodgers’ three hits in Saturday’s “B” game. . . . In the regular game, Steve Sax singled in the sixth to extend his hitting streak to 13 games. . . . Pitcher Ken Howell, coming off off-season shoulder surgery, threw on the side during the “B” game and said he did not feel pain but also did not throw well. “I was upset because some days I feel good and some days my arm feels shabby. It felt shabby today. I would have liked to throw today, because it has been awhile (a week ago today).” . . . Injury update: The Dodgers announced that Alejandro Pena (strained groin) has improved but still will miss one start. Meanwhile, Mike Davis (sprained ankle) and Mickey Hatcher (strained hamstring) are said to be improved but day-to-day. X-rays of Len Matuszek’s left ankle showed no new injury. . . . The Dodgers play the New York Mets at Vero Beach, Fla., today. Channel 4 will televise the game.