Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, May 4, 1990 TAG: 9005040033
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B5 EDITION: STATE
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: LOS ANGELES LENGTH: Medium
On Wednesday night, Valenzuela pitched his second consecutive complete game, scattering eight hits in the Dodgers' 6-2 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates.
The left-hander, coming off a four-hit, 5-0 victory over the Chicago Cubs, hadn't pitched consecutive complete games since September 1987.
"He seemed to be in real good command of both sides of the plate and he changed speeds," said Pirates outfielder Andy Van Slyke. "Those are the three things you need to do to win, and he did those three."
Valenzuela, whose career was threatened by a 1988 shoulder injury, doesn't throw as hard as he once did. But Dodgers pitching coach Ron Perranoski said it doesn't matter.
"I don't think velocity means a thing," Perranoski said. "John Tudor's pitching great for St. Louis with, what, a 76 mph fastball.
"Fernando's arm is getting stronger. He's throwing in the mid-80s. You can throw the ball 84 mph and have nothing on it. He's throwing 84 with something on it.
"These two back-to-back are his best games since before he got hurt. He was outstanding in both games."
From 1981 through 1986, Valenzuela was 97-68 with 84 complete games. He slumped to 14-14 with a 3.98 earned run average and 12 complete games in 1987; 5-8 with a 4.24 ERA and three complete games in 1988, and 10-13 with a 3.43 ERA and three complete games in '89.
Some said Valenzuela was finished when the shoulder injury struck in '88. But he never lost faith.
"I listen to me," he said. "The injury is in the past."
Valenzuela, known for throwing a lot of pitches, needed just 113 to beat the Pirates and 119 in his shutout of the Cubs. He is 2-2 with a 2.83 ERA this year.
"He's pitching crafty. He's getting them out with his know-how," said Tommy Lasorda, the Dodgers' manager. "He doesn't have the velocity he once did."
Valenzuela, 29, said he feels stronger because he is throwing fewer pitches.
"I'm trying to throw more strikes, throw a strike on the first pitch," he said.
Valenzuela said that pitching only three complete games and 196 innings last season actually helped him.
"That's why I'm stronger this year," he said. "I felt good at the end of last year, but I'm stronger now."
Keywords:
BASEBALL
by CNB