Weaponless, Valdes Hits Rock Bottom

Dodger pitcher Ismael Valdes has angered teammates and club officials because he is often reluctant to challenge batters.

Valdes provided more fodder for his critics Saturday at 3Com Park in the San Francisco Giants’ 18-4 victory--the Dodgers’ worst loss of the season.

The right-hander acknowledged he performed horribly after giving up nine hits--including a grand slam--and seven runs in only 2 2/3 innings. Valdes (10-10) walked four and struck out two in losing for the first time in seven starts, and he didn’t offer excuses.

“I didn’t have my weapons today,” said Valdes, whose earned-run average increased from 3.86 to 4.17. “I had no control and I didn’t have my best stuff, and it happens.

“I wish I could have my best stuff every time out to win games, but sometimes you’re not going to have it. When you don’t have your best stuff, you have to figure out ways to get hitters out.”

Valdes searched unsuccessfully Saturday.

The Giants scored seven runs against Valdes in the third inning on five hits and three walks, sending 12 batters to the plate.

Valdes struggled against the bottom of the Giants’ order, walking the seventh- and eighth-place batters before giving up a run-scoring single to pitcher Russ Ortiz. With two out, Bill Mueller hit the first grand slam of his career to put San Francisco ahead, 7-0.

Before his bases-loaded at-bat in the third, Mueller had one hit in 10 at-bats with the bases full this season. He was hitless in eight at-bats--with five strikeouts--with two out and the bases loaded.

Valdes also started the Dodgers’ previous worst loss of the season, 13-2, against the Houston Astros on May 26. He gave up eight hits and 10 runs--nine earned--in 4 2/3 innings.

New Dodger General Manager Kevin Malone, traveling with the team on the trip, watched as much of Saturday’s performance as he could bear to watch.

“This was very frustrating and somewhat embarrassing for me,” Malone said. “This just makes me more determined to do everything I can to prevent this from happening again. I don’t want this to ever happen again.”

*

Left-hander Mark Guthrie made his first appearance since Aug. 27, giving up four hits--including a two-run pinch-hit homer by Doug Mirabelli--and four runs in the seventh inning. The reliever has been sidelined because of a sore throwing elbow, and Saturday’s outing didn’t do much for his mental health.

“I don’t know how many pitches I had thrown, but I felt like I had thrown enough and I wasn’t getting anyone out,” said Guthrie, who threw up his arms in frustration during the inning. “Not that it mattered much at that point.”

*

Outfielder Damon Hollins’ two-run single in the seventh inning was his first hit as a Dodger. . . . Right-hander Dave Mlicki is questionable for his final start of the season after leaving Friday’s game in the sixth inning because of back spasms.

DODGERS’

CARLOS PEREZ

(10-13, 3.75 ERA)

vs.

GIANTS’

SHAWN ESTES

(7-11, 5.20 ERA)

3Com Park, 1 p.m.

TV--Channel 5. Radio--AM 1150, KWKW (1330).

* Update--The Dodgers turn to Perez to help prevent a three-game sweep. Perez has pitched three consecutive complete games, going 3-0 with a 1.00 earned-run average.