DODGERS NOTEBOOK: OSTEEN: VALDES UNPREPARED FOR HEAT AND HUMIDITY : DODGERS VS. FLORIDA.

Byline: Matt McHale Staff Writer

Ismael Valdes was gone after three innings Monday night, pitching his worst game in nearly a year.

There were a lot of factors that contributed to his role in the Dodgers' 8-6 loss to Florida.

He gave up a first-inning grand slam to Mark Kotsay and an upper-deck homer by Preston Wilson in the third.

And when he did not come out for the fourth, Valdes, who entered the game with the fifth-lowest ERA in the National League, had his quickest hook since Sept. 19, 1998 vs. San Francisco.

In that game, an 18-4 Dodgers loss, Valdes allowed seven runs and nine hits. Monday was nearly as bad.

Pitching coach Claude Osteen said Valdes' biggest problem was not just sitting through a two-hour, 26-minute rain delay at the start of the game. Osteen said it was the way Valdes did not prepare to pitch in steamy 93-degree weather after the long layoff.

``You come to a place like this with all the humidity and the first thing you want to do when you get to the mound is sit down and go to sleep.

``He came out of the clubhouse when they said play ball and he wasn't ready. In weather like that, you have keep moving, get your circulation going. It's tough, but pitchers have to learn to go through things like that.''

Lessons learned: Tom Lasorda, the former Dodgers manager and now a senior vice president, first saw right-hander Eric Gagne at Olympic Stadium in Montreal in August 1995 after the Quebec native was signed by the Dodgers.

Gagne, the Texas League Pitcher of the Year, makes his major-league debut tonight against the Marlins. He had a good fastball, but in that visit four years ago, Lasorda helped teach him a breaking ball that now is his signature pitch.

``There have been a few pitchers we've brought up from Double-A who could pitch right away,'' Lasorda said. ``(Tom) Niedenfuer, Fernando (Valenzuela), Steve Howe. You can tell when they are special. I think this kid will be a good one.''

Gagne got tonight's assignment after striking out 11 in his last start for San Antonio. Mike Judd originally was scheduled to pitch after going 3-1 in four starts.

Judd's defense: Judd is not conceding his place in the starting rotation just because Gagne is here.

After his stock dropped in 1998, Judd had four impressive outings. Judd, who took over for Valdes and allowed one hit and three walks Monday, said the difference for him is working as a starter.

``That's what I've always been and I've gotten used to the routine. You pattern your days and your throwing knowing when you are going to pitch. When you are used to that, it is easier to stay that way than getting two minutes to warm up and then going in.''

Keeping an eye out: Today's return of Florida outfielder Cliff Flord, who has missed 10 weeks with a torn right Achilles tendon, is well-timed, since the Dodgers are very interested in the left-handed hitting outfielder.

Floyd, who had 22 homers and 90 RBI last year, also missed the first three weeks this season after arthroscopic surgery on his right knee. He is in the first season of a four-year, $19 million contract.

Quick hits: Gary Sheffield continues to hit the ball hard with little to show for it. He went 0 for 5 Monday and now is 1 for 15 on the trip. But in the fifth inning, he hit a 430-foot drive to the deepest part of Pro Player Stadium that was caught by Preston Wilson at the wall.

Sheffield, who was booed soundly by his former fans in Florida, is making $9.5 million this season, more than the entire Marlins starting lineup Monday. . . .

One of the more entertaining moments Monday night was a 13-pitch at-bat by Marlins shortstop Luis Castillo against Dodgers reliever Matt Herges. Castillo fouled off seven consecutive pitches before Herges struck him out. . . .

Mark Kotsay, who hit a first-inning grand slam, was a late addition to the lineup after right fielder Danny Bautista broke his nose Sunday. Bautista will have surgery Wednesday. . . .

Todd Hollandsworth made his first appearance on the road trip and lined to short to end the eighth.

Time: 4:05 p.m., at Pro Player Stadium.

TV/Radio: Fox Sports West 2; KXTA-AM (1150), KWKW-AM (1330, Spanish).

Matchup: In the second of three games with the Marlins, right-hander Eric Gagne makes his major-league debut against Ryan Dempster (6-7, 5.34). Gagne was the Texas League Pitcher of the Year for Double-A San Antonio, going 12-4 with a 2.63 ERA. He led the league with 185 strikeouts, was second in ERA and third in victories. In his last start, Dempster, 22, allowed seven runs and seven hits in 5-2/3 innings against St. Louis. But he was 2-0 in five August starts with a 3.03 ERA. Control is his biggest problem, with 74 walks in 113 innings.

CAPTION(S):

box, 2 photos

PHOTO (1) no caption (Ismael Valdes)

(2) no caption (Gary Sheffield)

BOX: Dodgers vs. Florida (see text)