Blister Bothers Valdes

Dodger starter Ismael Valdes worked only 5 1/3 innings Sunday in the 5-4 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals.

Valdes had one of his least effective outings in eight starts. He was again bothered by his recurring blister problem, making it difficult for him to throw breaking pitches.

The right-hander gave up six hits--including two home runs--and three runs. Valdes failed to take command after the Dodgers staked him to a 4-1 lead after two innings.

Valdes leads the staff in homers allowed, giving up 11 in 53 innings. He also is tied for the National League lead.

“I couldn’t spin my ball very well,” said Valdes, who also slightly sprained his left ankle in the second while running the bases. “But I get blisters all the time, I just have to deal with it and keep battling.”

Valdes struck out two and walked three while throwing 86 pitches, including 50 for strikes. Dodger Manager Davey Johnson yanked him in the sixth after he gave up a one-out homer to Ray Lankford and then walked back-to-back batters.

“Ismael threw OK, but he had some problems locating [his pitches in the strike zone] a little bit because he had the blister problem,” Johnson said. “Then in the sixth, he just kind of lost it. He was missing up and away, and when he starts missing that much, he needs some help.”

The blister forms on the tip of the middle finger of Valdes’ throwing hand because of how he grips balls. Valdes has had the problem throughout his five-year career.

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Second baseman Eric Young suffered a severely bruised left ankle during the sixth inning.

The injury occurred when Cardinal outfielder Eric Davis, one of Young’s closest friends, inadvertently spiked Young while sliding into second. The Dodger leadoff batter remained in the game after consulting with team trainers on the field.

Young iced his ankle after the game and it was wrapped. He is scheduled to be examined by team medical personnel today.

“He was just playing the game the way it was meant to be played,” said Young, hitless in four at-bats with a sacrifice fly. “It was just a slow ground ball and he was trying to break up a [potential] double play. You can’t fault him for a good, hard slide.”

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Utility infielder Jose Vizcaino was forced to leave in the second inning after experiencing tightness in his left leg.

Vizcaino, who started at third base, said he hurt his leg while running from first to third.

“It hurts a lot right now,” said Vizcaino, who had a run-scoring single. “I’ll see how it is [today].”