Valdes Steps In for Ailing Park

Pitcher Chan Ho Park was scratched from his scheduled start Wednesday against the Florida Marlins and returned to Los Angeles because of flu-like symptoms, the Dodgers said.

Park phoned team trainer Stan Johnston in the afternoon at the team hotel, complaining of dizziness and nausea.

Johnston gave Park medication, but the right-hander’s condition did not improve.

Concerned other players might become ill, the Dodgers sent Park home on a commercial flight.

Johnston said team physician Michael Mellman will examine Park today, if his condition does not improve.

“I got a call early from Stan telling me that Chan Ho wasn’t feeling well,” Manager Davey Johnson said. “It seems like it’s a pretty bad case of the flu.

“We sent him home to get some rest and we’ll take it from there. Hopefully, he’ll feel better soon.”

Park’s illness forced the Dodgers to shuffle the rotation.

Ismael Valdes started and pitched well in the Dodgers’ 10-4 victory that ended a six-game trip.

Valdes worked the eighth inning Tuesday in the Marlins’ 7-3 victory, throwing 13 pitches.

The right-hander also pitched six innings Saturday in the Atlanta Braves’ 4-1 victory at Turner Field.

Kevin Brown will start Friday’s opener of a three-game series against the New York Mets at Dodger Stadium.

The Dodgers hope Park can start Saturday. If he can’t, Darren Dreifort will start and Park will be bumped to Sunday.

“I don’t know what we did,” Johnson said, “to make the baseball gods mad at us.”

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Valdes gave up one run and seven hits in five innings, and the pitcher whose heart has been questioned earned respect in the process.

“He was phenomenal, he had great stuff,” catcher Chad Kreuter said of Valdes, who was limited to 68 pitches because of his extra work. “You have to tip your hat to him.”

Pitching coach Claude Osteen appreciated Valdes’ attitude.

“He’s been positive since coming [back] here,” Osteen said. “His stuff is getting better and better each time out.”

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Utilityman F.P. Santangelo started for the first time since July 13.

He played second base and batted second, going three for four with three runs and a run batted in. It was his first three-hit game since June 7 against the Texas Rangers.

Santangelo said he has remained focused despite the worst season of his five-year career.

“I’ve had a bad 100 at-bats before, but I’ve always had a chance to make it up,” said Santangelo, batting .203 in 133 at-bats. “That hasn’t happened here because of the great players we have in the lineup.

“But I haven’t lost one bit of confidence in my ability. I know I can still play this game and help this team.”

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Catcher Todd Hundley, scratched from Tuesday’s starting lineup, said his sore right knee is improving.

Hundley, who pinch-hit Wednesday, expects to play in the series opener against the Mets.