Valdes Hits Finish Line With a Win

Pitcher Ismael Valdes has been concerned about the Dodgers’ recent performance, saying the team should be playing better.

Valdes has been searching for answers, and he was part of the solution Saturday night in a 6-1 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals.

The right-hander pitched the Dodgers’ first complete game of the season in helping them win for only the fourth time in 12 games before 53,964 at Dodger Stadium.

“We have everything we need to win ballgames,” Valdes said. “We played excellent defense and offense today, and I hope we can keep doing that.

“Every single guy just has to do his job. If everyone does his job, we can have a lot of wins after nine innings.”

The Dodgers supported Valdes with timely hitting, something they haven’t done frequently this season.

Eric Young and Eric Karros hit home runs in a three-run first inning against Cardinal starter Donovan Osborne (0-2), providing all the support Valdes would need.

Young homered to open the first for the 10th time in his career. Karros’ homer, a two-run shot, was his fourth of the season. Gary Sheffield added a run-scoring single in the third, and Devon White’s two-run single in the sixth gave Valdes a 6-0 lead.

Valdes (2-0) held the Cardinals in check while striking out 10 (including Mark McGwire twice) and tossing the ninth complete game of his career. He overcame recurring blister problems and convinced Manager Davey Johnson to let him finish the game.

Valdes’ impressive effort came at the right time for the Dodgers.

“It was just a great game,” Johnson said. “You have to go after hitters, and it was like ‘boom, boom,’ tonight. I hope everyone tries to emulate him. Just great.”

Valdes gave up only six hits, including Fernando Tatis’ third home run in the series, and seventh overall.

Valdes had outstanding command despite another blister forming on the tip of the middle finger of his throwing hand, throwing 84 strikes in 125 pitches. Valdes walked only two while getting ahead in counts throughout the game.

“I felt very good out there,” said Valdes, who pitched his previous complete game against the Pittsburgh Pirates last season on June 27. “I had good command on my pitches, a good breaking ball and the ball was moving in and out. But the complete game isn’t what mattered, what mattered is that we won the game.”

Johnson and team trainers had a conference on the mound with Valdes with one out in the eighth, and Johnson told his pitcher he was going to remove him because of the blister.

Valdes pleaded with Johnson to give him the chance to close out the game. Johnson isn’t easily swayed, but Valdes was compelling.

“He had the blister and I was going to hook him,” Johnson said. “He must have the trainers in his back pocket, because they said it was a normal blister with his history of blisters, and he could pitch with it.

“I usually don’t care what [pitchers] say. But he pleaded with me to finish, and he was pretty adamant, so I let him go.”

Valdes was forced to leave in the seventh inning of his previous start against the San Diego Padres last Sunday because of a blister.

“I felt like I could [finish],” Valdes said. “You never want to pitch with blisters, but you do what you have to do.”

Teammates appreciated Valdes’ heart.

“Any time a starter can pitch a complete game and give our bullpen a night off is awesome,” said closer Jeff Shaw, who was warming up in the ninth. “He pitched a hell of a game.”