Slower Nomo Fast Enough

SAN FRANCISCO — As the velocity has waned on Hideo Nomo’s fastball, he has compensated with improved control and deception.

Former Dodger Nomo pitched a three-hitter and struck out 10 for the New York Mets, who retained their lead in the NL wild-card chase with a 4-1 win Wednesday over former Dodger Orel Hershiser and the Giants.

Nomo (6-11), returning to the park where he made his major league debut in 1995 and in which he came within five outs of a perfect game later that season, had the Giants swinging wildly.

“If you can pitch better, I’d like to see it because that’s as good as it gets--an explosive fastball, a devastating splitter,” Met Manager Bobby Valentine said.

Giant Manager Dusty Baker said Nomo, who is 5-2 with a 1.95 earned-run average in eight starts against San Francisco, doesn’t throw nearly as hard as he used to but is more effective as a pitcher.

“He kind of tricked us today. We were looking for his fastball and he was fooling us with off-speed stuff,” Baker said.

Nomo (6-11) did not allow a runner until Jeff Kent led off the fifth with a soft single to left.

Hershiser (9-9) gave up a leadoff homer to another former Dodger, Lenny Harris, and the other three Met runs and eight hits in six innings.