Dodgers See Clearly Now, First in View

It’s tough enough hitting major-league pitching when you can see it.

Try hitting it when the pitcher is a blur. And so is the ball.

That was the problem faced by Dodger shortstop Greg Gagne, who was stricken with a viral infection that robbed him of his vision just as he was enjoying a 15-game hitting streak two weeks ago.

It’s tough enough facing major-league hitters on two good legs. Try facing them with only one.

That was the problem faced by right-hander Ismael Valdes, who strained his left hamstring nearly a month ago.

Monday night at Dodger Stadium, both men, partners in frustration the last few weeks, teamed to help the Dodgers beat the Pittsburgh Pirates, 4-2, in front of a sellout crowd of 53,503.

The victory, on a night when the NL West-leading San Francisco Giants were idle, moved the Dodgers within a game of the division lead for the first time since May 19.

Valdes (6-9), coming off the disabled list, went six innings to get the victory.

And Gagne, who had been one for 11 since returning to the lineup, smacked a two-run homer, his sixth of the year, off Pittsburgh starter and loser Jon Lieber (6-11).

The Dodgers didn’t know what to expect from Valdes. But they were more than pleased with what they got.

As was he.

“I felt a little strange,” he said. “It felt like a new season to me. I was a little afraid because of the importance of the game to the team.

“After the first pitch, the fear disappeared. When I was on the mound, I started to focus and concentrate.”

What particularly pleased the Dodgers about Valdes’ pitching line was the column reserved for walks allowed. It remained blank.

Even though Valdes had missed 18 games, even though the only batters he had faced since being injured were in a simulated game last week, he did not have the control problems common for pitchers who face periods of inactivity.

Valdes threw 81 pitches, 60 for strikes.

Valdes wasn’t far off midseason form. He gave up eight hits, but only two runs, striking out five.

Could he have gone longer than six if asked?

“I was ready for anything,” Valdes said.

He surrendered a fourth-inning leadoff single to Kevin Young, who stole second, went to third on a wild pitch--the only sign of wildness demonstrated by Valdes--and then scored on a single by Kevin Polcovich.

In the fifth, Pittsburgh got its other run on doubles by Tony Womack and Al Martin.

The Dodgers struck first, scoring in the second inning. Raul Mondesi singled to left field and went to third base when first baseman Kevin Young couldn’t handle Lieber’s throw on an attempted pickoff.

From there, Mondesi scored on Tripp Cromer’s RBI single to left. It was Cromer’s 20th RBI in his 28 games this season.

Gagne’s homer to left was preceded by a Todd Zeile walk in the fourth.

Now in his 15th big-league season, Gagne, 35, also had a single to boost his average .275, 21 points above his career mark.

All that, and now he can also see again.

The Dodgers’ final run, in the fifth inning, was brought home on a sacrifice fly by Todd Hollandsworth after Brett Butler had tripled.

Todd Worrell came on in the ninth to get his 25th save.

“With their pitching staff,” Pittsburgh Manager Gene Lamont said, “you’d better not get behind too much or you’ll get into trouble. With this team, you are not going to get too many chances, especially with their arms.”

The final out of the game came on a line shot by Womack caught by Gagne at short.

It was a blur, but Gagne saw it perfectly.