Martinez Injury a Serious Concern

Dodger ace right-hander Ramon Martinez will miss at least his next scheduled start after an examination Monday revealed further damage to his throwing shoulder.

Martinez, who missed 10 starts last season after suffering a partial tear on his rotator cuff, has an increased rotator cuff tear as well as a cartilage tear, which were discovered during an MRI exam by team physician Frank Jobe. Martinez was expected to start against the Colorado Rockies on Saturday in the fifth game of the team’s eight-game trip.

Although he will rest his sore shoulder, Martinez will resume the exercise program he began after his first rotator cuff tear was revealed last season. The Dodgers are hopeful he will make his scheduled start June 26 against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Dodger Stadium, but Martinez will seek a second opinion to determine if he should undergo season-ending surgery.

Outfielder Todd Hollandsworth earlier this month also was found to have cartilage tear, known as a “slap lesion,” on his left shoulder. He recently underwent surgery for that lone tear that probably has ended his season.

The exam Monday was spurred by the Dodgers’ concern because the nine-year veteran was forced to leave Sunday’s game against the Rockies because of shoulder stiffness. Martinez left the mound after only 4 2/3 innings--equaling his shortest outing of the season in Colorado’s 3-2, 12-inning victory.

The only run Martinez gave up came on a solo home run by Larry Walker in the third. He gave up four hits and struck out six before being replaced by Dennis Reyes with two out in the fifth.

Martinez and Jobe were unavailable for comment Monday. After speaking with them, Fred Claire, executive vice president, said more time is needed to assess Martinez’s status for the remainder of the season.

“We’re just not sure right now,” Claire said. “We saw him throw on Sunday, and it’s not as if he was walking off the mound holding his shoulder.

“He said he doesn’t feel the same type of pain that he felt last season, so we just have to go from there and see what happens.”

Martinez, 30, declined to undergo surgery last season. Instead, he strengthened his shoulder through daily exercises and lifted weights regularly for the first time.

After making four rehabilitation starts at single-A San Bernardino, Martinez returned to the Dodgers on Aug. 20. He went 4-2 with a 4.15 earned-run average in his final seven starts, going 10-5 with a 3.64 ERA overall while pitching with the tear.

He has been among the major league’s most consistent starters this season, going 7-3 with a 2.83 ERA and 91 strikeouts in 101 2/3 innings. Martinez is among the National League leaders in several categories.

Moreover, he has been the lone consistent member of the suddenly shaky Dodger rotation. But Martinez and team officials realized that his injured shoulder might not endure the strain of an entire season.

The Dodgers aren’t viewing Monday’s news with optimism.

“I don’t think there’s any grounds to be optimistic, because that’s not what we’ve been told,” Claire said. “I’m being realistic about the situation, but we have to see how Ramon feels.”

The strong possibility exists that the Dodgers will be without their best pitcher longer than expected.

“We hope Ramon is fine and that he’s able to pitch,” Claire said. “We’ll give him the support he needs if he’s not able to, and we’ll go on from there. All of that is part of the game, and we’ll just have to deal with it.”

With the uncertainty surrounding Martinez, the Dodgers might resume trade talks with the Seattle Mariners about disgruntled left-hander Randy Johnson.

The Mariners have gone 3-9 since one of the team’s minority owners killed a proposed trade June 2 trade that would have sent the all-star pitcher to the Dodgers for right-hander Ismael Valdes and infielder/outfielder Wilton Guerrero, whom Seattle officials consider to be a potential star.

ON DECK

* Opponent--San Diego Padres, two games.

* Site--Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego.

* Time--7.

* TV--Fox Sports West 2 tonight, ESPN Wednesday.

* Radio--AM 1150, KWKW (1330).

* Records--Dodgers 34-34, San Diego 44-25.

* Record vs. Padres--(1997) 5-7.

TONIGHT

DODGERS’ CHAN HO PARK (5-3, 4.40 ERA) vs. PADRES’ KEVIN BROWN (6-3, 2.74 ERA)

* Update--This isn’t the best time for the Dodgers to play the Padres. San Diego, which has won seven in a row, has a 3 1/2-game lead in the West after sweeping the second-place San Francisco Giants in a weekend series. Fortunately for the Dodgers, Park seems to have corrected his problems. He gave up six hits and one run in eight innings last Tuesday in a 5-1 victory over the Oakland Athletics, which was his first win since May 13. He has had three consecutive strong outings. In his most recent start, Brown pitched a complete game last Wednesday, a 2-1 victory over the Cincinnati Reds.

Wednesday, 7:30 p.m.--Ismael Valdes (5-7, 4.67) vs. Sterling Hitchcock (3-1, 3.90).