Martinez Workout Becomes a Washout

NEW YORK â€”  Ramon Martinez waited 9 1/2 weeks and went through five rehabilitation starts for this?

The Dodgers’ ace right-hander, out since mid-June because of a small tear in the rotator cuff in his throwing shoulder, returned to the mound on a cold, windy, wet, muddy and altogether miserable Wednesday night at Shea Stadium, struggling through two-plus innings in a game that was mercifully called with the New York Mets leading the Dodgers, 6-5. When the game was postponed, the Mets, having already scored twice in the third inning, had the bases loaded and nobody out.

After a delay of one hour and 15 minutes, with a forecast of continued showers well into the night, the game was rescheduled for today, part of a doubleheader beginning at 1:40 PDT.

Because the San Francisco Giants’ game at Philadelphia was also rained out, the Dodgersremain two games behind the NL West-leading Giants.

Although he now faces two doubleheaders in five days, with another scheduled for Monday in Pittsburgh, Dodger Manager Bill Russell figures he got out of Wednesday’s downpour without any reason to be downcast.

What he got, in effect, was a sixth rehab start for Martinez, and his first in a major league game, with no damage to the Dodgers in the standings.

“It was almost a blessing for both sides,� Russell said. “It looked like it was going to be one of those nights where the pitchers are run in and out on both teams.�

“Ramon got his rehab work and there was no harm done. He had good velocity on the ball, but he had control problems. That’s understandable.�

Martinez had been doing most of his rehab work against Class-A batters, but, as he’d be the first to tell you, the New York Mets are not the Lancaster JetHawks.

“Mentally, you know a rehab game doesn’t count,� Martinez said. “Psychologically, you feel you have to do more against major league hitters.�

Martinez’ teammates did their best to relax their pitcher, giving him four runs to work with in the first inning.

But in the bottom of the inning, Martinez looked anything but relaxed. He faced eight batters, walking three, threw 36 pitches and gave up four runs of his own, three coming on a Bernard Gilkey homer.

Martinez settled down in the second, retiring the side in order on 10 pitches.

But by the third, the rain had turned heavy, the conditions intolerable. Martinez threw 19 more pitches, giving him 65 for the evening, before the umpires interceded. Martinez wound up giving up six runs, five hits and four walks.

“It was a good game for me the way it happened,� Martinez said. “This will help me a lot. The good part is that my shoulder didn’t hurt at all.�

And the other good part for Martinez is that his rough return didn’t hurt the Dodgers.

* EDDIE MURRAY: He signs minor league contract with Dodgers. C7

NEXT SERIES FOR DODGERS

WHO: Philadelphia Phillies

WHERE: at Philadelphia

WHEN:

Friday: 4:30 p.m.

Saturday: 4:00 p.m.

Sunday: 10:30 a.m.