Valdes Not Bothered by Bad Outing

A day after the worst outing of his career, pitcher Ismael Valdes focused on the future.

After all, looking back wouldn’t have been comforting.

The right-hander gave up 10 runs--in only 4 2/3 innings--in the Houston Astros’ 13-2 victory. Nine of the runs were earned, including seven in Houston’s eight-run fifth inning.

On Wednesday, Valdes said he wasn’t worried after his disastrous performance.

“This is just baseball, and sometimes these things happen in baseball,” he said. “Sometimes things go good for you and it’s your night. Sometimes things don’t go good for you.”

Tuesday was definitely the latter for Valdes.

He dropped to 4-6, and his earned-run average increased from 4.60 to 5.48. Valdes was quick to point out that he had pitched well recently, winning twice in his previous three starts.

“I had pitched good,” he said. “This was the first time I pitched real bad [recently], but I made some good pitches. I was trying to hit the corners, but I just had a bad time.

“I just have to keep working hard to get ready for my next start. That’s all I can do now.”

Pitching coach Glenn Gregson said he noticed some mechanical flaws in Valdes’ delivery, which they worked on. But Gregson said he isn’t reading too much into the outing.

“I’m just going to chalk it up to a bad start,” he said. “I like that look in his eyes right now, so I’m not overly concerned.”

ON DECK

Opponent--Cincinnati Reds, four games.

Site--Dodger Stadium.

Tonight--7.

TV--Fox Sports West 2 tonight and Friday, Channel 11 Saturday.

Radio--AM 1150, KWKW (1330).

Records--Dodgers 26-26, Reds 24-29.

Record vs. Reds--1-2.

DODGERS’ RAMON MARTINEZ (6-2, 2.92 ERA) vs. REDS’ SCOTT WINCHESTER (3-2, 3.78 ERA)

Update--Martinez has won four straight and six of his last seven decisions. He is 4-0 with two no-decisions and a 2.66 ERA (13 runs in 44 innings) in his last six starts. He has pitched at least seven innings in seven of 11 starts. “Ramon is the leader of our pitching staff, and he knows what we need from him,” Manager Bill Russell said. “He’s given us the type of outings that you expect from your No. 1 starter.” Martinez was overpowering Saturday in his most recent start, pitching his first complete game of the season, and the 37th in his nine-year career, in a 7-1 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks. He gave up two hits and struck out six without a walk. He retired 24 consecutive Diamondbacks at one point before giving up a leadoff home run to Brent Brede in the ninth inning. “He was just outstanding,” pitching coach Glenn Gregson said. “With the way he was throwing, you felt like you were watching a no-hitter.” Many of Martinez’s teammates compared that outing to his 1-0 victory over the Reds on April 5 that ended the Dodgers’ season-opening, four-game losing streak. In that game, he gave up one hit in eight innings and struck out seven. He had a perfect game through 6 2/3 innings, and his bid for a no-hitter ended with one out in the eighth when Eddie Taubensee singled with one out in the eighth.

Friday, 7 p.m.--Chan Ho Park (4-3, 5.43) vs. Brett Tomko (5-3, 3.84).

Saturday, 1 p.m.--Hideo Nomo (2-6, 4.50) vs. Pete Harnisch (4-1, 3.24).

Sunday, 1 p.m.--Ismael Valdes (4-6, 5.48) vs. Mike Remlinger (3-6, 4.06).