Players Not Concerned Yet

Dodger players are unfazed by the team’s 2-5 trip, saying it’s too early to be excited or disappointed.

“The first week, what, we went 5-1, and we were the greatest team,” first baseman Eric Karros said Sunday after a 4-3 loss to the San Diego Padres. “It was like, ‘The New-Look Dodgers,’ and this and that, after we played a week.

“This week, we didn’t play good baseball. Now it’s, ‘Oh, boy, same old Dodgers.’ In June or July, if we’re still hovering around .500, then there are real issues.”

Second baseman Eric Young agrees.

“At this point, you can’t get too worked up about everything,” Young said. “Yeah, we didn’t play up to our ability on the trip.

“But we’ve got a good ballclub. We know what we have to do, and now we’re going back home. If people want to start doubting us, that’s fine with me. It’s just way too early.”

Catcher Todd Hundley threw out his first two baserunners of the season in Sunday’s loss.

In the fifth inning, Hundley was credited with his first caught stealing in 13 attempts when Damian Jackson slid past second and was tagged out by shortstop Mark Grudzielanek. Eric Owens stole second against Hundley in the seventh, scoring later on Quilvio Veras’ single to tie the score, 3-3.

Hundley was credited with his second caught stealing when Veras slid past second in the seventh. Overall, Hundley, who is recovering from reconstructive surgery on his throwing elbow in September of 1997, has caught two runners in 15 attempts.

Ismael Valdes was bothered by a blister on the tip of the middle finger of his pitching hand.

Valdes, who has a history of blisters, had problems gripping the ball to throw curves. The right-hander worked 6 1/3 innings against the Padres, getting a no-decision.

Valdes gave up six hits and was charged with three runs. He threw 102 pitches, 64 for strikes.

Manager Davey Johnson praised Valdes’ effort.

“He gave me more than I thought he could give me,” Johnson said. “I didn’t want to give him a chance to lose the ballgame and exacerbate the blister even more.”

Valdes stole the second base in his five-year career during the sixth inning. Valdes stole his only other base against the Philadelphia Phillies on Aug. 24, 1997, at Philadelphia. . . . Reliever Antonio Osuna has a blister on the middle finger of his pitching hand. Johnson said Osuna, who pitched a scoreless sixth inning during his first appearance Saturday, might be available tonight.