Martinez’s Shutout a Relief

Ramon Martinez knew just how to boost the morale of the criticized members of the Dodger bullpen Wednesday.

He told them they weren’t needed.

With 120 pitches that baffled the St. Louis Cardinals and charmed the guys sitting in the left-field corner, Martinez gave the bullpen its first rest in more than a month in the Dodgers’ 2-0 victory.

Before 24,722 at Busch Stadium, Martinez recorded his ninth victory and third shutout, tying him for the National League lead in both categories. But in the minds of the six Dodger relievers, he has no equal.

After appearing in 28 consecutive games over 31 days, they finally had a day off.

“We finally scared them into finishing one,” Jay Howell said.

Close to it. The bullpen had suffered two losses and three blown saves in the previous three games.

They really became aware of their consecutive-game streak Tuesday when relieving for Orel Hershiser. The last time they had a day off, Hershiser was pitching simulated games.

Said Howell: “We were wondering how long it had been.”

Added Tim Crews: “We’re so proud of Ramon.”

Martinez, whose victory over the Philadelphia Phillies May 3 gave the bullpen its last break, gave up only four hits--three singles and a triple that bounced off the glove of a running Kal Daniels. That triple was one of only seven balls hit into the air against him in the first seven innings.

Martinez walked Ozzie Smith to start the ninth, which caused Howell and John Candelaria to begin warming up. But then he retired Ray Lankford, Pedro Guerrero and Todd Zeile on 11 pitches, three fly balls, to end the game.

Perhaps Martinez was inspired when Howell threw a wild pitch in the bullpen, sending the ball rolling toward the Dodger dugout.

“It’s been kind of tough for them,” Martinez said of the bullpen. “They needed somerest.”

The Cardinals wished Martinez had taken a rest, as he entered the game with a 2-0 record against them in Busch Stadium. He had given up only one run in 16 innings in St. Louis.

“I remember that run, last year Pedro Guerrero got a hit that drove in Willie McGee,” Martinez said. “So today before the game I see Pete hitting and I tell him, ‘I remember last time, and you are going to have to hit my best stuff this time.’ ”

Sure enough, Martinez threw him fastballs in the ninth inning, finally getting Guerrero on a foul pop fly to Eddie Murray in front of the Cardinals’ dugout. Martinez improved to 9-2 and lowered his earned-run average to 2.39, which also ranks among league leaders.

“It was a great game to watch,” reliever Jim Gott said. “Down in the bullpen in the middle innings, we were all sort of going, ‘Man, he’s really dealing.’ It definitely helped us relax.”

During their streak, the bullpen had thrown 75 innings, or nearly three per game, which is more than some Dodger starters have pitched this year. They enjoyed Wednesday’s game so much, they could use another one.

“Let’s see, now who is pitching next?” Crews asked.

That would be Bob Ojeda, who doesn’t specialize in complete games.

But at least the first-place Dodgers, who improved their lead to 1 1/2 games over the Atlanta Braves, will have their manager back.

Manager Tom Lasorda is scheduled to rejoin the team today after missing two games becauseof the death of his son, Thomas Jr.

That means coach Bill Russell was 1-1 while handling the team, an unofficial record that he said had no great meaning.

“I had Orel Hershiser starting one game, and Ramon starting the other game. I figured I would win one,” Russell said.

Brett Butler, in a two-for-22 slump, led off the game with a triple into the right-center field gap against starter and loser Bryn Smith. After Juan Samuel walked, Chris Gwynn hit into a double play to score him.

The Dodgers are 25-12 in games that have featured at least one hit from Butler. In games which he has gone hitless, they are 4-10.

“I know that about 80% of the time Butler gets on base, he scores,” Russell said. “When he is doing something for us, we are usually winning.”

Samuel added the Dodgers’ second run in the fourth inning with his sixth home run.

Leading all National League second baseman in batting average (.333), hits (64) and total bases (97), Samuel is on a direct path toward his third appearance in baseball’s All-Star game.

And at this rate, one of his teammates could be the National League starting pitcher.

“I came close to starting last year, right?” said Martinez, who threw a scoreless inning in last year’s game. “That is something I have thought about, getting to start this year. Who knows, maybe it could work out.”