Dodgers Waste Valdes’ Effort

ATLANTA —  Even an unexpected boost from pitcher Ismael Valdes isn’t enough for the Dodgers these difficult days.

Valdes rebounded after a poor performance in his last start, but Greg Maddux pitched better Saturday afternoon in the Atlanta Braves’ 4-1 victory at Turner Field.

The Dodgers expected little from Valdes against the National League East leaders because the right-hander lasted only 1 1/3 innings against the Milwaukee Brewers on Aug. 6 in the second start of his second Dodger tenure.

But Valdes (2-6) delivered an effective six-inning outing before another sellout crowd of 47,086.

Chipper Jones hit a two-run home run--his 25th--in the first inning after third baseman Adrian Beltre’s error, and Rafael Furcal had a run-scoring single in the second.

That was it against Valdes, whose teammates didn’t support him enough this time.

Maddux (13-6) gave up a run and seven hits in 6 1/3 strong innings, winning for the first time in five starts.

The four-time National League Cy Young Award winner was typically sharp while frustrating the struggling Dodgers.

“Maddux was his old masterful self,” Manager Davey Johnson said. “He’s just a tough customer.”

Mike Remlinger got the final two outs in the seventh for the Braves (71-45), and Kerry Ligtenberg worked two scoreless innings for his 11th save.

Atlanta scored an insurance run in the seventh against Matt Herges, who briefly returned to the bullpen before his scheduled start Tuesday against the Florida Marlins.

The Dodgers (59-56) have lost three in a row and six of seven. They are 1-7 against the Braves this season and 0-5 here after dropping the first two games of a three-game series.

The Dodgers are not a factor in the NL West race, the mood in the clubhouse is downcast and four games remain on the trip.

Players acknowledge things are bad, and facing Maddux didn’t help.

“Maddux was just moving [the ball] all over today,” catcher Todd Hundley said. “He just didn’t give in, he didn’t give in to anybody.

“When you’ve got a guy doing that it’s going to be tough to score. He wasn’t the guy who you want to be facing when you’re struggling offensively.”

And the Dodgers are struggling.

They had only five hits Friday in the Braves’ 7-2 victory, and Maddux seized an opportunity after going 0-3 with a no-decision in his previous four starts.

He challenged the Dodgers, throwing inside more than usual. The strategy worked--in part because umpire Brian Runge cooperated with strike calls.

Maddux set the tone early.

The right-hander struck out cleanup batter Shawn Green looking in the first with runners on second and third and one out. Eric Karros flied out to end the inning.

“Typical Maddux,” said left fielder Gary Sheffield, who was one for four with a double and is tied for the major league lead with 36 homers.

“I know from years and years of facing him that he worked both sides of the plate today more than he normally would.”

Remlinger relieved Maddux with a runner on first and one out in the seventh. Maddux, who threw 58 strikes in 86 pitches, struck out five and walked one.

Valdes wasn’t bad either after getting pounded for eight hits and seven runs against the Brewers six days earlier.

“Rocket didn’t do too bad,” Johnson said of Valdes, who gave up three runs (two earned) with five strikeouts and a walk. “He threw well enough to win.”

Beltre committed his team-leading 17th error on leadoff batter Furcal’s grounder in the first. Valdes threw a slider on a 2-and-2 count, and Jones hit a one-out homer barely over the right-field wall, his first in 77 at-bats.

“It doesn’t matter if I did good or not,” Valdes said. “We lost. That’s the only thing that counts.”