Valdes Gets Another Chance to Prove Himself

Pitcher Ismael Valdes gets a second chance to make a first impression after the Dodgers and Pittsburgh Pirates were rained out Monday night at Three Rivers Stadium.

Valdes’ first start of his second Dodger tenure ended after a 1-hour 45-minute delay in the bottom of the first inning in a scoreless game. The game has been rescheduled as part of a doubleheader today, beginning at 2 p.m. PDT.

Left-hander Carlos Perez is scheduled to start the first game and Valdes the second after throwing only 11 pitches Monday. The series ends Wednesday.

Valdes is eager to impress his teammates after being reacquired from the Chicago Cubs, and he said he won’t let rain stop him.

“I’ll be ready for [today], that’s the bottom line,” said Valdes, who faced two batters before the infield was covered. “There’s nothing I can do [about the rain], expect prepare myself for my next start.”

He won’t have to wait long.

The Pirates had runners on first and second in the bottom of the first after Pittsburgh starter Jose Silva retired the Dodgers in order to start the inning. Valdes walked leadoff batter Warren Morris and Jason Kendall singled.

Valdes acknowledged he had butterflies.

“Yeah, of course,” Valdes said. “It feels great to be back, and I just want to pitch.”

Despite the baserunners, the Dodgers liked what little they saw from Valdes.

“I’m not sure he wouldn’t have gotten out of that jam,” pitching coach Claude Osteen said. “From talking with him, I can tell he’s in a good frame of mind.

“He’s confident and he wants to start a new chapter. And there’s nothing wrong with his stuff. He’s got good stuff.”

Manager Davey Johnson considered starting Darren Dreifort in the second game on three days’ rest because he’s reluctant to use starters the day after postponed games regardless of pitch totals.

But Valdes told Johnson he wanted the ball.

“Ismael said he’ll be ready,” Johnson said. “He feels good, so I’ll go back to him.

“We probably won’t be able to get as many [innings] out of him, maybe four or five. But if he has any [shoulder] stiffness [today], we won’t go there.”

Valdes said he doesn’t anticipate any problems because of Monday’s short stint, but Johnson told relievers Matt Herges and Antonio Osuna to be ready just in case.

The Dodgers are pleased that Valdes, whose desire has been questioned, wants to prove himself.

“And fate is already shining on him,” Osteen said. “He gets a second chance [today].”

*

Johnson had planned to give center fielder Tom Goodwin, acquired Monday from the Colorado Rockies, the day off.

But he changed his mind after the game was postponed, saying Goodwin probably will start in one of the games.

“Speed at the top of the lineup always makes you look like you’re feeling good,” Johnson said. “The way our lineup is constructed, ideally you’d like to have a left-handed batting leadoff guy who could run, bunt, take an extra base and play center field.”

TODAY

GAME 1: DODGERS’ CARLOS PEREZ (4-5, 5.48) vs. PIRATES’ JIMMY ANDERSON (3-5, 4.64)

GAME 2: DODGERS’ ISMAEL VALDES (2-4, 5.37) vs. PIRATES’ BRONSON ARROYO (2-3, 6.38)

Three Rivers Stadium, 2 p.m. PDT.

TV--Fox Sports Net 2 (both games). Radio--KXTA (1150), KWKW (1330)

* Update--Perez was pounded July 26 in the Rockies’ 11-4 victory at Coors Field. He gave up eight hits and nine runs, eight earned, and was chased after only three-plus innings. He is 2-3 with a 4.24 ERA against the Pirates.