Valdes’ Good Start Not Enough Again

Ismael Valdes should be used to this by now.

The Dodger starter typically doesn’t win despite pitching well, and that familiar story unfolded again Saturday night in the Phillies’ 6-5, 11-inning victory at Veterans Stadium.

Valdes worked six solid innings against the Phillies, giving up only four hits and two runs. However, his teammates again failed to provide much support while he was on the mound, leading to his seventh no-decision of the season.

The situation is enough to frustrate even the most secure pitchers, and Valdes is definitely frustrated.

“It has been very frustrating,” Valdes said of the Dodgers’ disastrous season. “All I can do is try to keep my team in the game, I don’t have control over anything else that happens.

“People look at my record [8-11] and they don’t think I’m doing my job. The only way people think you’re doing you’re job is if you have a lot of wins, but it doesn’t always work that way.”

Valdes’ record isn’t indicative of how much he has meant to the ballclub, Manager Davey Johnson said.

“He’s been great for me,” Johnson said. “I know people said some different things in the past [about Valdes’ heart], but I wasn’t here for that. I don’t have the background on all of that.

“All I know is that he’s gone out and battled for me. I feel like we’ve always got a chance with him out there.”

And with good reason.

Beginning play Saturday, Valdes ranked among the top 10 in four National League categories. His earned-run averaged dropped to 3.47 after Saturday’s effort. Moreover, Valdes repeatedly has displayed mettle that his critics believed he didn’t possess.

Valdes has limited opponents to a league-low .178 batting average with runners in scoring position. Johnson is not among those whose eyes have only recently been opened.

“He’s had a few things [recurring blister problems] that have bothered him, but he’s battled for me,” Johnson said. “It’s easy for people to say he should give eight or nine innings [every start].

“He could have 16 or 17 wins if we would have done a few things differently behind him. If the other guys in the rotation would have done what he [and Kevin Brown] have done, we’d be in high cotton right now.”

TONIGHT

DODGERS’ CHAN HO PARK (6-10, 5.77 ERA) vs. PHILLIES’ ANTHONY SHUMAKER (0-1, 1.26 ERA)

Veterans Stadium, 10:30 a.m. PDT

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

* Update--Park has victories in six of his last nine decisions on the road. He has given up three or fewer runs in six of his 11 road starts. Park pitched well in his last outing Monday at Dodger Stadium but still lost. He gave up three runs (two earned) in seven innings during the Florida Marlins’ 7-5 victory. Shumaker is making his third major league start. The rookie right-hander has been impressive in three outings.