Valdes Is Given a Six-Game Suspension for Hitting Batter

DENVER — Ruling that Ismael Valdes intentionally threw at Mark Grace of the Chicago Cubs, the commissioner’s office Friday suspended the Dodger pitcher six games and fined him $1,000.

Valdes, who said he plans to appeal, will remain active pending a hearing. A date had not been scheduled.

“I’m very surprised, I wasn’t expecting this at all,” said Valdes, ejected after hitting Grace with a pitch in an Aug. 27 game. “I was just trying to make a pitch inside, and I get suspended for six games for hitting a batter?

“I’m surprised and I’m angry. I didn’t deserve this many games.”

Frank Robinson, baseball’s vice president of on-field operations, ordered the disciplinary action after reviewing videotapes of the Dodgers’ 7-6, 10-inning victory over the Cubs at Wrigley Field.

Robinson ruled that Valdes hit Grace on his right shoulder with a pitch in the fifth inning in retaliation for Cub starter Kerry Wood throwing a pitch behind the head of Alex Cora in the top of the inning.

Cora was the first batter to face Wood after Bruce Aven hit a two-run home run against him.

Valdes was warned after throwing his first pitch high and inside to Grace, and the right-hander hit Grace in the fifth pitch of the at-bat.

Wood, who was not warned after nearly hitting Cora, was suspended three games and fined an undisclosed amount.

Robinson’s decision confused the Dodgers.

“I really don’t understand it,” said Manager Davey Johnson, ejected for arguing after Valdes was warned for throwing at Grace. “[Valdes] was just up and in [against Grace]. Kerry Wood should have been ejected right there [for throwing at Cora].

“That would have been the end of it, but that didn’t happen. I don’t know where Frank is coming from on this one. He’s got me on this one.”

Valdes has had little to smile about in the worst season of his career, and he said Friday’s news only made things tougher for him.

“So many things [have gone wrong], you can’t even imagine,” said Valdes, 0-3 with a 6.08 earned-run average since rejoining the Dodgers.

“Everybody has good years and bad years, but this year has been more bad than good.”

*

Catcher Todd Hundley rejoined the Dodgers a day after attending his mother’s funeral in Chicago.

Betty Hundley died after a long battle with cancer. She was 58.

*

An attorney representing the Dodgers in connection with the May 16 melee in the stands at Wrigley Field filed a motion to quash subpoenas for players and team officials to testify Sept. 18 at a criminal hearing for one of three men charged with disorderly conduct.

A hearing date to argue the motion had not been scheduled.

TODAY

DODGERS’

CHAN HO PARK

(15-8, 3.45 ERA)

vs.

ROCKIES’

BRIAN ROSE

(3-2, 4.28 ERA)

Coors Field, noon PDT

Radio--KXTA (1150), KWKW (1330).

* Update--Park is 4-0 with a 0.84 ERA in his last four starts. The right-hander has 37 strikeouts in his last 32 innings. The Rockies altered their rotation to have Pedro Astacio start Sunday.