DODGERS NOTEBOOK: VALDES WILL BE OUT FOR AT LEAST 10 DAYS.

Byline: Kevin Acee Daily News Staff Writer

Ismael Valdes has not been placed on the disabled list - yet.

The Dodgers pitcher, who suffered a strained left hamstring trying to beat out a throw to first base in Saturday's game, was walking gingerly Sunday. That he reported feeling better and that there was no discoloration in his leg was encouraging.

``It's not a severe strain,'' said team trainer Charlie Strasser, who added the next few days will tell more about how long Valdes needs to sit out.

At the least, Strasser said, Valdes is expected to be out 10 days. Even with the three-day All-Star break that begins today, a 10-day rest would preclude him from making a start in the first rotation in the second half.

Reliever Darren Dreifort would likely start in Valdes' place. The Dodgers will not go with four starters, even for just one turn through the rotation.

Valdes is 5-9 with a starting-staff-low 2.97 ERA. In his last three starts, he is 2-1, 0.84.

A break: The Dodgers won again, and they did not lose again.

Raul Mondesi fell to the ground after being hit on the hand by a Will Cunnane pitch in the fifth inning. The only person to beat Dodgers manager Bill Russell to the writhing Mondesi was Strasser.

The Dodgers could not afford to lose another key cog.

The ball hit Mondesi on his left pinky, the one that has been swollen almost to the size of his thumb the past month after he tore a tendon sliding back into third base on June 2. Strasser said there was no additional swelling Sunday, and Mondesi stayed in the game.

``We got lucky,'' Strasser said.

Both sides: When Wilton Guerrero gets back in the lineup - and Tripp Cromer will eventually stop hitting like Tony Gwynn - he will continue to switch hit. Forever.

The rookie second baseman dismissed speculation that he might cease to switch hit because of a recurring injury to his left shoulder that bothers him when he bats right-handed and has caused him to miss numerous games this season, including the past five.

``I'm going to be a switch hitter,'' Guerrero said. ``If I have a bad knee, am I not going to run? I like switch hitting. I know if I did not have this (injury), I'd be hitting .300.''

Guerrero is batting .289 on the season - .210 from the right side and .316 from the left.

Division: Greg Gagne was asked if he liked hitting second, as he did Thursday and Friday. The 35-year-old shortstop, who has a knack for reducing the game to its simplest form, never looked up as he answered.

``I just like hitting,'' he said. He could have added ``Again.''

No other Dodger has come close to the streaky hitting of Gagne this season. His first half can be divided into thirds.

After his first 100 at-bats, Gagne was hitting .360. In his next 100, he hit .160. In his past 110 at-bats before the break, he is hitting .309.

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Photo

PHOTO Dodgers' Tripp Cromer avoids the tag of Padres catcher John Flaherty to score on a sacrifice fly in the seventh inning.

Associated Press