[0] VALDES IS GOOD, DODGERS ARE NOT : CINCINNATI 5, DODGERS 3.

Byline: Brian Dohn Staff Writer

Ismael Valdes pitched under the watchful eye of every contending team in baseball Monday, and he did what he's been doing most of the season. The Dodgers' most marketable commodity allowed one run in seven innings in shutting down Cincinnati.

It still wasn't good enough for the win because closer Jeff Shaw allowed two runs in the ninth and two in the 10th as the Reds rallied for a 5-3 win at Dodger Stadium.

It's was Shaw's second blown save in 24 chances and the second time in 41 games the Dodgers lost when leading after eight innings. Shaw (2-3) allowed four runs on five hits in two innings.

With the Dodgers an out away from a win in the ninth, pinch-hitter Eddie Taubensee doubled to the center-field wall to drive in two runs and tie the score 3-3.

Dmitri Young led off the 10th with a double to right. Shaw struck out Sean Casey and Greg Vaughn's infield single moved Young to third before Barry Larkin hit a sacrifice fly to center. Vaughn stole second and then scored on Aaron Boone's single to make it 5-3.

The Dodgers' inning further deteriorated when Boone stole second and went to third on catcher Todd Hundley's errant throw. Hundley committed his second error of the inning when he dropped Mike Cameron's foul pop.

But that's the way the Dodgers' season has gone. Whether Valdes remains entrenched depends on the organization's brain trust, and whether they're willing to risk dealing one of the best young pitchers in baseball for prospects that could help the organization in the future.

General manager Kevin Malone said over the weekend that, at the very least, it had to be considered.

But the question remains of whether the Dodgers are willing to deal a guy that's 25 years old and has been the team's most consistent pitcher. It may also signal the Dodgers could be ready to pack up the season and look toward next year.

To that point, if the Dodgers were ready to look forward, they would be hard-pressed to find a pitcher of Valdes' level and talent on the free-agent market or through a trade.

And though Malone and manager Davey Johnson each acknowledged moving one of the starting pitchers is possible before Saturday's non-waiver trade deadline, it still appears unlikely.

Valdes has been strong lately, though he suffered through a career-high five-game losing streak in June primarily because the Dodgers gave him little run support.

Valdes gave up five earned runs in his last start, his worst outing of the season. He had yielded two runs in his three starts before that, all of which he won. In his last five starts Valdes has allowed eight runs in 35 innings.

Gary Sheffield had two hits and drove in two runs for the Dodgers and Devon White hit a solo homer. The Dodgers (44-55) could have jumped out of last place with a win.

Instead, the Reds' Stan Belinda (2-1) recorded the win in relief.

The Dodgers took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first when Jose Vizcaino scored on Sheffield's double.

The Reds tied it in the fourth on Casey's leadoff homer, but White countered with a solo shot in the bottom of the inning.

Sheffield, who threw out Jason LaRue at the plate in the seventh, singled in the eighth to give the Dodgers a 3-1 lead.

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2 Photos

PHOTO (1--Color) Pokey Reese grimaces in pain after being hit by a pitch by the Dodgers' Ismael Valdes in the first inning Monday.

(2) Cincinnati's Aaron Boone steals second base ahead of a wild throw to the Dodgers' Jose Vizcaino.

Kevin Karzin/Associated Press