DODGERS BATS GO SILENT; PHILLIES SNUFF OUT RALLY IN EIGHTH : PHILADELPHIA 2, DODGERS 1.

Byline: Brian Dohn Staff Writer

Dodgers right-hander Ismael Valdes was close to brilliant.

So upon consulting the Dodgers' hand-held chart of why this was a loss, a lack of offense, coupled with better pitching from the other team, seems to be the answer.

Such is the Dodgers' Murphy's Law-kind-of-world these days, in which they managed four hits and lost to the Philadelphia Phillies 2-1 in front of 41,590 Friday at Dodger Stadium.

It's the ninth time in 12 series the Dodgers lost the first game of a series at home. The Dodgers (30-35) are five games under .500 for the first time since losing to Philadelphia on May 31, 1995.

``I don't know what's going on with this team,'' said Dodgers third baseman Adrian Beltre, who hit a solo homer in the second. ``We're supposed to be strong with starting pitching, and (Valdes) throws a great game and we don't score. If it's not one thing, it's the other. It's a lot of bad things. Everything is negative for us. We're not playing the right way.''

The latest undoing wasn't that Valdes surrendered solo homers to Westlake High's Mike Lieberthal or Rico Brogna, or that Phillies ace Curt Schilling returned to form. It was the Dodgers' running themselves out of a potential winning rally in the eighth inning with the bases loaded.

Eric Karros' one-out liner was caught by Phillies shortstop Alex Arias, who doubled Eric Young off second to end the inning.

``I was taking my shuffled steps (on the pitch),'' Young said. ``If I did a better job of getting back, it would have been a double play anyway. This is a tough drop for us. You keep going at it and hope it turns, and you hope you don't get too far behind before it turns.''

The inning began with Schilling (9-4) on the bench after throwing 101 pitches in seven innings. Pinch-hitter Dave Hansen drew a four-pitch walk off reliever Steve Montgomery, Young singled just over the head of third baseman Scott Rolen and Jose Vizcaino sacrificed. Raul Mondesi was intentionally walked before Karros lined into the double play.

``I don't think about hitting it on the button, but you can't guide it,'' Karros said.

Wayne Gomes pitched the ninth for his eighth save. The only saving grace is Arizona lost and the Dodgers remain nine games back. But the Dodgers have lost six of seven and nine of 11.

``We had the right guys in the right spots and we just didn't do it,'' Dodgers manager Davey Johnson said. ``You're not supposed to get doubled up on a line drive. Maybe from his view he thought the ball was going to go through.''

It was Schilling's first win since May 29 when he shut out the Colorado Rockies. It also ends a miserable stretch in which Schilling went 0-2 with a 6.97 ERA in three starts as his ERA went from 2.57 to 3.39.

Schilling, who's thrown six complete games, allowed three hits, and after Beltre's tied it 1-1 in the second allowed one runner past first base.

``I thought Schilling looked like he was tired, although he threw well,'' Phillies manager Terry Francona said. ``I don't think Schilling has to pitch every inning to be effective.''

Valdes was nearly Schilling's equal, but the trend of nonsupport is now bestowed upon him. Valdes (5-6) yielded five hits and two runs but lost. It's the fifth straight start Valdes has allowed three earned runs or less, yet for the fourth straight time he lost.

The one thing Valdes has been victimized by this season is the long ball, and that's how the Phillies built their 2-1 lead. He's given up a team-high 16.

Lieberthal put the Phillies ahead 1-0 in the second with his 15th homer, but Beltre tied the score with a solo homer in the bottom of the inning. Valdes and Schilling remained locked in a speedy duel until the seventh when Brogna led off with a homer to center field to give the Phillies a 2-1 lead.

``Valdes did an outstanding job and again we didn't get him any runs,'' Young said. ``We're just not getting the breaks. It seems that's the way it keeps going.''