Valdes Starts Strong, Beltre Gets the Win

There was no doubt that the Dodgers questioned Ismael Valdes’ tenacity and heart last year. It was one of the reasons the club dealt him to the Chicago Cubs in an expense-cutting off-season move.

And while questions of his resolve remained when he was reacquired from the Cubs on July 26, they intensified as he struggled through his first seven outings since returning to the Dodgers, going 0-2 with a 7.33 earned-run average.

But Friday night, Valdes delivered his most inspired performance since returning to Chavez Ravine in the Dodgers’ 2-1 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies in front of 28,383 at Dodger Stadium.

Unfortunately for Valdes, the Dodgers didn’t score the winning run until the eighth inning, after he had departed.

Adrian Beltre hit a solo home run over the center field wall on a 1-2 fastball from Phillie reliever Chris Brock (7-7) in the eighth, making a winner out of set-up man Mike Fetters (6-2).

Jeff Shaw pitched a scoreless ninth for his team-leading 23rd save, his 11th straight converted opportunity since coming off the disabled list July 13.

“I tell you what, Ismael couldn’t have pitched a better game,” Dodger Manager Davey Johnson said. “It reminded me of the way he pitched last year. That was the Ismael that was my No. 2 guy last year.

“It was a good game for him to build on. I wish we could have gotten him the win.”

While he was appreciative of Johnson’s wishes, Valdes said he was not frustrated by not getting a win, despite not allowing an earned run on three hits in seven innings.

“As long as the team wins, that’s the bottom line,” said Valdes, who struck out six and walked one. “I’ve been struggling but as long as the team wins, that’s what counts.”

Valdes lowered his career ERA to 2.63 at Dodger Stadium.

“Tonight was a good time,” he said. “I had good location, control and command of my pitches. But I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, as long as my team wins that’s all that matters. This was a very important game for us.”

With the win, the Dodgers (71-64) remained seven games behind the first-place San Francisco Giants in the National League West.

Beltre’s homer was his 15th of the season, which tied his career high set last season as a rookie.

“It’s a great feeling to hit a home run to win the game,” Beltre said. “I’ve been seeing the ball pretty good.”

The Dodgers scored in the first.

With two out and Mark Grudzielanek on second and Gary Sheffield on first, courtesy of walks, Shawn Green hit a towering yet catchable fly ball down the left-field line. Philadelphia left fielder Pat Burrell pulled up short of the ball, letting it bounce off the synthetic track and into the stands for a ground-rule double, scoring Grudzielanek, for Green’s 89th run batted in of the year.

Philadelphia scored in the third, thanks to a Valdes error.

Marlon Anderson led the inning off with a single past a diving Beltre at third. Anderson moved to third when Valdes’ pick-off attempt got past first baseman Eric Karros.

Tomas Perez followed up by grounding out to shortstop Alex Cora, allowing Anderson to score and tie the game at 1-1.

Cora left the game in the sixth inning suffering from flu-like symptoms. The Dodgers have had four players in recent weeks suffer from the virus--Sheffield, pitchers Chan Ho Park and Kevin Brown and catcher Todd Hundley.

Sheffield, who missed the Dodgers’ last 11 games serving his five-game suspension for his role in the Wrigley Field melee on May 16 and battling flu, was 0 for 3 with a walk in his first game since Aug. 21.

Philadelphia starter Randy Wolf was impressive as well.

Wolf, who pitched in City Section championship games at Dodger Stadium in 1993 and 1994 for El Camino Real High and threw a complete-game six-hitter against the Dodgers on May 28, did not earn a decision either.

Wolf, who is 2-0 with a 1.96 ERA in three starts against the Dodgers this season, gave up one run on six hits in even innings. Wolf struck out eight and walked four in 118 pitches.

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NL WEST RACE

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Team W L GB S.F. 77 56 -- Arizona 73 60 4 Dodgers 71 64 7

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