Martinez of Old Appears : Baseball: He gets plenty of support from Ingram, Karros as Dodgers win, 7-0.

He threw with the form for which he became known during his glory years of 1990-91, when he won 37 games and then somehow, lost it.

Ramon Martinez’s fastball is about 5 m.p.h. faster than in the last couple of seasons. He’s getting his breaking ball over and keeping the ball down. And Wednesday night, after a humbling spring and a rocky start to this season, it all came together in a 7-0 complete-game victory over the St. Louis Cardinals.

Before 53,325 at Dodger Stadium, Martinez (4-2) staved off a three-game sweep by the Cardinals.

The Dodger offense ignited against Cardinal starter Bob Tewksbury (8-3), who lasted four innings.

“I felt very strong the whole way tonight, although my back stiffened up the last couple of innings,” said Martinez, who lowered his earned-run average to 3.91. “I have a lot more concentration now. I’m a lot more relaxed because I’ve been pitching well.”

Garey Ingram and Eric Karros each had three hits, knocked in two runs and scored one. Karros hit his seventh home run of the season.

Raul Mondesi went three for four and scored two runs.

Ingram gave Martinez all the runs he needed.

He had been called up to the Dodgers on May 15 to add some speed to the lineup and to put another infielder on the bench, just in case.

Just when it looked as if it was time for Ingram to start packing for double-A San Antonio, Delino DeShields and Jeff Treadway were injured in the same game. On Wednesday night, leadoff hitter Brett Butler missed the game to be with his mother, who is having surgery today. So Ingram, who still can’t believe he is here, led off, and--as when he homered in his debut--rose to the occasion.

“That’s the first time I’ve seen 50,000 people waving beach towels,” said Ingram, referring to a Dodger promotion. “But I’ve seen a lot of things up there for the first time. I didn’t think I was going to feel this comfortable, but the players have made me feel that way. They give me advice, and I’ve taken it and so far it’s worked.”

Martinez, who pitched his first shutout since Aug. 22 of last season, was exceptional for the first four innings, giving up two hits and retiring 12 of the first 14 batters. He got into trouble in the fifth, when he gave up hits to Mark Whiten and Luis Alicea, who was pinch-hitting for Tewksbury, then walked Bernard Gilkey to load the bases with two out. But Martinez induced Ozzie Smith to pop out to Jose Offerman to end the inning.

Martinez also stranded runners in scoring position in the sixth, eighth and ninth innings.

During the Dodgers’ two-run fourth inning, Offerman and Manager Tom Lasorda clashed in the dugout when Offerman didn’t show much effort when running out a sacrifice bunt. Offerman appeared to be unhappy about being told to sacrifice with Martinez to bat next.

Offerman wouldn’t talk about the incident, and Lasorda said it happened because of Offerman’s frustration offensively.

Offerman’s batting average dropped to .200 after he went 0 for 3 Wednesday.