Valdes, Dodgers Crushed by Astros

With the Dodgers carrying only five relievers, team officials challenged the starting pitchers to provide something extra.

Ismael Valdes said he understood the message, but he definitely didn’t give his team what it needed Tuesday night against the Houston Astros.

In the worst outing of his four-year career, Valdes gave up 10 runs--in only 4 2/3 innings--in the Astros’ 13-2 victory before 16,251 at the Astrodome.

Nine of the runs were earned, including seven in the Astros’ eight-run fifth inning that broke open the game. Astro starter Shane Reynolds (5-3) took advantage of the support.

He gave up seven hits--including Raul Mondesi’s 12th home run--in eight efficient innings. Reliever Mike Magnante ended the Dodgers’ work by pitching a scoreless ninth.

But Valdes was done long before the final pitch.

“This was a tough night,” said Valdes, who dropped to 4-6.

“I worked hard, and I did my best, and this wasn’t expected. But this obviously wasn’t my night.”

Manager Bill Russell was ejected in the seventh, for the first time this season, by home plate umpire Charlie Reliford for arguing balls and strikes. And the Dodgers again failed to climb above .500, dropping to 25-26.

That completed a lousy night for Russell, who had his choice of reasons to be upset. Not surprisingly, he focused on Valdes.

“Rocket [Valdes] made a lot of bad pitches, and they hit every one of them,” said Russell, who was ejected for the third time as a manager.

“You need more than [4 2/3] innings out of your starting pitcher, especially now. These types of games take a toll on your bullpen, so we left him out there to try and work out of it.

“We hoped he would fight through it and make some good pitches. But he didn’t do that.”

The 10 runs eclipsed his previous high of eight, which he gave up in 3 2/3 innings to the Cincinnati Reds on July 9, 1995.

In addition to the 10 runs, Valdes gave up eight hits Tuesday, walked four and struck out two while throwing 87 pitches, 49 strikes. His earned-run average increased from 4.60 to 5.48.

“Valdes just couldn’t hit any spots,” said Astro center fielder Carl Everett, who had a two-run single in Houston’s three-run seventh. “When he did get it over the plate, we did our jobs and hit it.”

Valdes’ control problem was the biggest factor in the Dodgers’ first 11-run defeat in three seasons. They lost to the San Diego Padres, 14-3, on June 27, 1995.

“This just happens sometimes,” said right fielder Gary Sheffield, who singled in four at-bats.

“We got them [on Monday], but there’s no quit in that team. They came right back at us tonight.”

The Astros were frustrated after leaving the bases loaded during the first three innings of a 4-3 series-opening loss. Their disposition improved Tuesday after facing Valdes.

They sent 11 batters to the plate in their eight-run fifth. They had five hits against Valdes, and he contributed to their success with two walks.

The defense also didn’t provide much help, committing two errors.

Valdes was chased after Sean Berry scored on Tony Eusebio’s second single of the inning, giving the Astros an 8-2 lead. Eusebio went to second when first baseman Eric Karros dropped a relay throw from Sheffield, and Everett, who had walked, went to third.

Everett gave the Astros a 9-2 lead when he scored on a wild pitch by Jim Bruske, who relieved Valdes.

Eusebio scored the final run in the fifth when Tim Bogar, who doubled earlier in the inning, reached base on third baseman Bobby Bonilla’s fielding error. But Bogar was thrown at second for the final out.

“They got a lot of big hits in the inning, and they gave Reynolds a lot of support,” Russell said. “But we had to leave Rocket out there, because we needed more from him.”

They sure did.

A closer look at Jim Eisenreich, one of the players acquired by the Dodgers in the Mike Piazza trade. STORY, C5. Last in a Series