DODGERS : Martinez Tests His Hip, Declares Himself Ready

On a day dominated by pitching, Ramon Martinez eased some minds Sunday when he said he will be ready when the season starts and Todd Worrell pitched another impressive inning in relief.

Martinez, who strained his hip on Wednesday, pitched five innings in an intrasquad minor league game. Martinez looked shaky the first three innings, giving up five runs, but then settled down. He said later that he favored his hip the first couple of innings before realizing he could pitch out of a stretch with no pain, instead of using a windup.

Pitching coach Ron Perranoski, who left the game after the first two innings, said he didn’t like what he had seen, but was glad to learn later that Martinez had settled down.

Martinez’s inconsistency began before he strained his hip. But both Perranoski and Martinez say the inconsistency was because Martinez was out of rhythm from missing a start and having the next one shortened to three innings, each time because of rain.

“If he looks like this during the season in four or five starts, then I have to worry,” Perranoski said.

Martinez will pitch again Thursday.

In the Dodgers’ regular game at Holman Stadium, the Montreal Expos broke a 1-1 tie in the 11th inning when Todd Haney hit a sacrifice fly to knock in the winning run of a 2-1 victory.

Steve Wilson, who previously had been the Dodgers’ most effective left-handed reliever, gave up three walks, one intentional, to set up the winning run and get the loss.

But before that, Dodger pitchers retired 22 consecutive batters. Kevin Gross, making his sixth start this spring, retired 11 consecutive batters after giving up one run on two hits. He had six strikeouts. Gross has an earned-run average of 2.25 in 28 innings and is scheduled to pitch in the team’s home opener April 13.

Gross was followed by right-hander Dera Clark, who is competing for a bullpen spot. Clark faced six batters and pitched two scoreless innings. Clark, who was selected this winter in the Rule 5 draft, has given up no runs in six appearances.

Worrell followed, making 11 pitches to retire three batters on two fly balls and a groundout.

“Last time I threw 13 pitches, this time 11. Pretty soon I’ll have it down to three pitches,” Worrell said. “I’d like to pitch three more times before the season starts, but I don’t know if I will throw in back-to-back games. I could probably manage two innings, though. Heck, that’s only 22 pitches.”

Right-hander Kip Gross also pitched two scoreless innings.

Lance Parrish did not play, although the Dodgers used three catchers. Manager Tom Lasorda said that Parrish didn’t play because they didn’t need him. The Dodgers have to decide by Tuesday whether to keep Parrish.

The Dodgers will wear a No. 52 patch on their uniform sleeves this season in memory of former teammate Tim Crews, killed last Monday in a boating accident.