Valdes Runs Confidence Game, 1-0 : Baseball: He teams with Worrell in shutout against Braves. Dodgers’ only run is unearned against Avery.

Dodger pitcher Ismael Valdes simply needed a little encouragement.

After winning five consecutive games and compiling a 1.71 earned-run average from June 1-23, Valdes lost four consecutive starts before meeting with Eliodoro Arias, who coached him in the Dominican Summer League, before last Friday night’s game against the Florida Marlins at Miami.

Valdes must have gotten some good advice. He won his second game in a row, beating the Atlanta Braves, 1-0, Wednesday night before a paid crowd of 37,491 at Dodger Stadium.

“I was putting some pressure on myself because I didn’t want to lose again,” Valdes said. “I wanted to help the team and I was pressing.

“He gave me confidence. It’s nothing to say about it. It’s just go out there and do what you’re going to do and what you know to do. He told me to just go out there and have fun. That’s all you can do.”

Valdes, who gave up one run and four hits in eight innings in his last start, gave up six hits and struck out eight in eight innings before he was relieved by closer Todd Worrell, who worked a perfect ninth inning to earn his 17th save.

“I hated to come in that game,” Worrell said. “We wanted Valdes to get a shutout. He pitched great against one of the best lineups in baseball. It’s been a while since I’ve seen a starting pitcher handle that lineup like he did for eight innings.

“They didn’t threaten too many times. They only got a guy to second twice.”

Valdes also stole the first base of his career in the seventh inning after getting aboard on a force play.

“I didn’t get the bunt down, so I tried to help my team and help myself by stealing second base,” Valdes said.

Manager Tom Lasorda said Valdes’ control has improved. Valdes, who didn’t walk a batter for the second time this season, has registered 14 strikeouts in his last two games.

“I don’t think he was more relaxed,” Lasorda said. “He’s just throwing the ball in the spots where he’s supposed to. That makes it a lot easier when you pitch that way.

“He pitched a hell of a ballgame. He had them under control the whole game. He was in command the whole game. “

Valdes retired the first five batters before giving up a two-out double to left fielder Ryan Klesko in the second inning. But he got out of the inning on Charlie O’Brien’s ground ball to first baseman Eric Karros.

“I pitched a good game because I had lots of confidence,” Valdes said. “Sometimes we had the right stuff. Sometimes we don’t, but tonight we did.”

Valdes (7-6) got support from the Dodgers’ much maligned defense as Karros made a sensational diving stop to take away a hit from David Justice in the fourth inning.

Rookie second baseman Chad Fonville also made a good play on a grounder to the hole by second baseman Mark Lemke in the fifth inning.

“When you play good defense it puts you in a position to win,” Worrell said. “Tonight we played a great defensive game. That’s how you win one-run ballgames.”

The Dodgers got their run in the fourth inning when Roberto Kelly singled in catcher Mike Piazza with one out. Piazza reached second on a two-base throwing error by third baseman Chipper Jones.

The Dodgers just missed getting some insurance after Brave starter Steve Avery (4-6) issued back-to-back two-out walks to Fonville and Jose Offerman in the fifth inning, but center fielder Marquis Grissom took an extra-base hit away from Piazza with a sensational leaping catch of Piazza’s drive into the gap in right-center field.

Brave Manager Bobby Cox was tossed from the game in the fifth inning by plate umpire Paul Runge after he went out to the mound to talk to Avery, and wound up arguing balls and strikes with Runge.

Avery gave up one unearned run and three hits in seven innings before he was lifted for a pinch-hitter in the eighth inning.