Dodgers Sunk By Red Sub

CINCINNATI —  If only the call could have come a minute earlier. If only Dave Miley could have walked a little faster. If only Gabe White could have been a little smarter.

White’s life has been a nightmare since the day last June when the Reds called him up from their Indianapolis farm team.

Most minor leaguers spend the day they get called up celebrating with family and friends. White spent it with his surgeon.

White separated his shoulder that day, later hurt his arm, then his knee.

But finally, 14 months later, White made it into a big league rotation Saturday night and took his frustrations out on the Dodgers, beating them, 3-2, at Cinergy Field in front of 30,809.

The loss, painful as it was to the Dodgers, didn’t cost them any ground in the NL West race. The division-leading San Francisco Giants also lost, leaving the Dodgers 1 1/2 games back.

White’s pain began the day the Reds called. The pitcher was in the outfield wrestling with teammate Keith Mitchell when his manager, Miley, prepared to go out and tell him the good news.

Instead, there was only bad news.

Mitchell slammed White down, inadvertently separating the pitcher’s throwing shoulder. The shoulder problem caused arm problems and White also suffered a knee injury.

He finally got back to the Reds, getting recalled Friday because Pete Schourek is on the disabled list, suffering from a sore elbow.

“Two surgeries and a rehabilitation later, here I am,” said White, who had previously pitched in the majors with Montreal. “It was very nice to be back on a major league mound.”

It wasn’t so nice for the Dodgers. White pitched seven innings, surrendering two runs on five hits to get the victory. He struck out five and walked one.

“The kid shut us down,” Dodger Manager Bill Russell said. “He had a good fastball, a good curve and he only walked one batter. He had no fear.”

Not even when he gave up the first run of the game.

Roger Cedeno, the second batter of the game, doubled into left field. With two out, Eric Karros hit a line drive that landed at the base of the wall in right-center for a double, Cedeno easily scoring.

The first three Cincinnati batters got White even. Deion Sanders and Chris Stynes singled. Willie Greene then hit a bouncer to Karros. The Dodger first baseman, seeing Sanders racing toward the plate, fired a strike to catcher Mike Piazza. But Sanders slid safely under the tag.

Greg Gagne singled home Todd Zeile in the second inning, but the Dodgers were not heard from again as White gave up only one more hit, a fifth-inning single by Cedeno.

Cincinnati tied the game on an RBI single to right in the third by Eduardo Perez.

The game-winner came in the sixth inning, Reggie Sanders hitting his 14th home run over the right-field fence off Dodger starter and loser Ismael Valdes (6-10).

Although he is four games under .500, Valdes has a respectable 2.94 ERA. He has also struck out 98 and walked only 32 in 131 2/3 innings.

How does Valdes react to being asked about such impressive numbers alongside such an unimpressive record? With a shrug of the shoulders.

“Same old same,” he said of Saturday’s game. “This is baseball, gentlemen. Who knows what is going to happen next? Look at my numbers. Some years, you have years like this. I am pitching good. I’m learning. I’m doing my best, man. Nobody wants to have a losing record, but people who know baseball known what I’m doing. I’m concerned about trying to win games. I’m not trying to win good individual records.

“[Tonight], I did what I considered my best.”

Valdes gave up seven hits, striking out seven and walking one in 7 1/3 innings.

If he wants to know about real struggles, Valdes need only talk to his opposing starter.

For Gabe White, the nicest number of all is the one on his back. Because it’s sewn onto a major league uniform.