Valdes Steals Lead in Sammy’s Show

Dodger starter Ismael Valdes has had a tough-luck season that one victory is not going to change. Not after missing out on several wins because of lack of run support from his teammates.

However, things were much different for Valdes and the Dodgers against the Chicago Cubs on Friday night before 44,230 at Dodger Stadium.

With a good chunk of the fans in attendance only there to watch Chicago home run specialist Sammy Sosa, the Dodgers stole the show behind Valdes’ right arm for a 9-0 victory, their fourth in five games.

Valdes, who deserves much better than his 9-11 record, gave up seven hits, struck out four and walked none to win for the first time since July 16, when he defeated the Angels, 3-1.

“Well, that was a quality start,” Dodger Manager Davey Johnson said. “He struggled in the first but got going. He pitched efficiently, outstanding.”

Valdes, who had lost his previous four decisions, had solid control from the start. After Chicago got runners on first and second to open the game, Valdes kept the Cubs scoreless. He was at his best when he struck out Sosa swinging with a fastball above the belt.

“I made a great pitch against him because he is such a great hitter,” said Valdes, who pitched his second complete game and first shutout of the season. “But I bet you if I had made a mistake, he would have hit it out.”

Sosa, who had hit 10 homers in 12 games, did not add to his league-leading total of 53 as he finished 0 for 4 with three groundouts and a strikeout. He hit into a double play in the ninth.

In his previous six starts, five times Valdes had quality outings where he gave up three runs or less over six or more innings but did not win. Before Friday, Valdes had won only three times in his last 16 starts despite a 3.22 earned run average. His ERA improved to 3.29 overall Friday.

“Every year there’s a pitcher in a rotation who gets a lot of runs and then there’s a pitcher in a rotation that doesn’t,” Dodger second baseman Eric Young said. “He just happens to fall in the category that doesn’t this season.

“He’s been pitching great, keeping us in ballgames. It’s just unfortunate that we don’t give him the run support. Based on the way he’s pitching, I’m sure he could have 15 to 20 wins right now.”

Said Valdes: “Every pitcher would like to have run support early in a game. It makes me feel more comfortable and I don’t have to make some throws.”

The Dodgers, who have won six of their last eight games, jumped all over Chicago starter Steve Trachsel (4-16). In 5 1/3 innings, Trachsel gave up seven earned runs and 11 hits.

Adrian Beltre gave the Dodgers a 2-0 lead in the second inning when he smacked a home run into the right-field corner for his 15th of the season.

In the fifth inning, the Dodgers blew the game open with four runs. Young started the rally with a double and scored following singles by Mark Grudzielanek and Gary Sheffield.

Raul Mondesi, who turned many boos into Raauuuull cheers with three hits, then singled to give the Dodgers a 4-0 lead. Todd Hollandsworth, who started at first base in place of Eric Karros, singled home Sheffield and Mondesi scored on a force play to give the Dodgers a 6-0 lead.

The Dodgers scored two more runs in the sixth inning when Young, who had singled, scored on a sacrifice fly by Sheffield, and Grudzielanek, who also had singled, scored on a single by Hollandsworth.

Young, who finished with three hits and scored three runs, also played a role in the Dodgers’ run in the seventh. Young opened the inning with the walk, advanced to third on Grudzielanek’s double and scored on Sheffield’s second sacrifice fly of the game to give the Dodgers a 9-0 lead.

“E.Y. and Grud set the table and Sheff drove them in,” Johnson said. “That’s the way it is supposed to happen.”

Young continues to play well even though earlier this week, his agent said that the veteran infielder’s status needs to be addressed with the Dodgers during the off-season. That was news to Johnson.

“I was kind of surprised,” the manager said. “From what I read in the paper, the agent is going to talk to Kevin [Malone]. . . . It’s interesting because [Young] been much better since he’s been healthy. He’s been great on defense, he’s been stealing bases, he’s been outstanding.”

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Percival lets one get away in the eighth, as O’Leary’s double off the wall keeps Red Sox tied with A’s in wild-card race. Page 7