BASEBALL / DAILY REPORT : DODGERS : Valdes Turns His Game Around

This was the game the Dodgers believed was critical to starter Ismael Valdes’ confidence, and after watching him pitch a two-hit shutout, they can attest that all is fine.

Valdes pitched the finest game of his brief career, allowing only a soft single to right field by Scott Hemond in the third inning and an infield single by Bernard Gilkey in the sixth. Only one baserunner reached second base. The No. 2 through No. 7 hitters in the lineup went 0 for 19 with seven strikeouts.

“He was just awesome,” catcher Mike Piazza said. “He just had outstanding command of everything. He’s going to be one of the top right-handers in the league very soon.”

Said Dave Wallace, Dodger pitching coach: “He just put on a clinic. It was a big lift to the team. To see a string of relievers run down and congratulate him was special.”

The Dodgers could be faced with an intriguing decision in two weeks if they make the playoffs:

Do they keep Valdes in their three-man rotation for the first round of the playoffs, or do they use him in the bullpen where they believe he’d be an invaluable commodity.

“I don’t know yet,” Wallace said. “There are so many factors now. I have plan A, B and C, but we’ll have to see where it all falls.”

Said Valdes: “It doesn’t matter to me. I just want to help the team. I just want to be there.”

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Don’t get the Dodgers wrong, they still want to win the division, but suddenly the wild-card berth doesn’t sound like such a bad idea.

“We definitely would like to win the division,” said Piazza, who believes a 9-3 record in the final 12 games would accomplish the feat. “But the way it looks, just to get in the playoffs would be a great opportunity. I think if we just got in the door, we match up really well with a lot of teams.

“If we have to settle for the wild card, so be it. There’s no advantage either way. Maybe it’s more prestigious to win the division, but I don’t know if you get a banner or anything like that.”

Said Dodger Manager Tom Lasorda: “I’d rather win the division, but any way you get in is great. . . . It doesn’t matter how you get there.”

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Rookie outfielder Todd Hollandsworth has begun full-scale batting practice and should be able to hit in games by Wednesday or Thursday. He probably will platoon in left field with Roberto Kelly. . . . The Dodgers have arranged their rotation so Hideo Nomo, Tom Candiotti and Ramon Martinez will pitch the final weekend of the season in San Diego.