BASEBALL / DAILY REPORT : DODGERS : Pedro Martinez Silences Tigers

Pedro Martinez pitched four shutout innings, struck out five and stranded two Detroit Tigers on third base Saturday, drawing praise from the Tigers’ Cecil Fielder.

The American League home run champion was talking to the Dodgers’ Brett Butler at first base after Martinez had retired Fielder on a flyout and strikeout.

Said Butler: “Cecil turns to me and says, ‘Man, that kid is pulling out all the tricks today. That kid can really pitch.’ ”

In the best performance by a Dodger starter this spring, Martinez gave up two hits in four innings, leaving with a 1-0 lead. He retired the final nine he faced in the Dodgers’ 6-4 loss.

“He’ll be up (to the major leagues) before the year is over, that’s for sure,” Butler said.

Martinez, who has given up one earned run in seven innings, worked his last two innings on a sore right ankle, which he twisted while coming off the mound. It was wrapped, and trainers will examine it today.

“It hurts, but it’s nothing dangerous,” Martinez said.

Manager Tom Lasorda said that he is considering moving Juan Samuel from the second spot in the batting order to the fifth or sixth spot.

“If Kal Daniels doesn’t make it as a first baseman, our No. 5 hitter would be Samuel for sure,” Lasorda said. Taking the No. 2 spot would be the platoon of Lenny Harris and Mike Sharperson.

“I don’t care where I bat as long as they don’t move me around all season,” said Samuel, who has had eight consecutive seasons with at least 120 strikeouts, the longest such streak in baseball history.

Darryl Strawberry said it has been decided that he will bat fourth behind Eric Davis against right-handers, and the two will switch positions against left-handers.

Billy Ashley, who grew up 25 miles from Detroit in Belleville, Mich., savored his 450-foot home run to center field against the Tigers’ Tony Castillo. The Tigers used to be his favorite team, and his family and friends were watching the game on television back home. “It’s weird, doing this against your heroes,” said Ashley, who is headed for double A despite two spring home runs. “Sparky (Anderson) came up to me after the game and said, ‘Only guys from Detroit hit balls that far.”’ . . . The New York Mets’ Dwight Gooden is scheduled to make an appearance at Dodgertown today in a “B” game. It will be Gooden’s first game since he underwent shoulder surgery in September.