Martinez, Mondesi Spoil Rockies’ Fun

Ramon Martinez and Raul Mondesi took in the sights Friday afternoon in downtown Denver, glanced around Coors Field, and decided they should christen the new digs with style.

The two Dominican Republic natives put on a show in the Dodgers’ 6-4 victory that will have folks in the Mile High City talking for weeks, becoming the first visiting team to win at Coors Field.

“We made history,” Dodger Manager Tom Lasorda said. “Some day, we’ll be the answer to a trivia question.”

And when they do, talk will turn to the dazzling performances by Martinez and Mondesi.

Martinez, resurrecting memories of his rookie season, struck out 11 batters in only seven innings, yielding only four hits and one run. It was the most strikeouts by Martinez since June 4, 1990, when he tied a club record with 18 strikeouts, and the most by a National League pitcher this season.

“I had everybody feeling uncomfortable,” said Martinez, who used his change-up for the bulk of his strikeouts. “I felt great. You know, I really like this place.”

Martinez manhandled the middle of the Rockies’ vaunted batting order--Larry Walker, Andres Galarraga, Dante Bichette and Ellis Burks--limiting them to two hits and six strikeouts. While the Rockies began the night averaging nine runs a game and batting .333 at Coors Field, they looked lifeless until the ninth.

The Rockies trailed, 6-2, entering the ninth after being robbed of an eighth-inning homer by Walker when third-base umpire Randy Marsh inadvertently ruled it hit off the top of the center-field fence. It actually hit a metal chair, and bounced onto the field.

“We never have any empty seats,” Colorado Manager Don Baylor said, “and then we have a couple, and the ball just happens to bounce off one.”

Still, the Rockies put together one of their patented rallies in the ninth, loading the bases off reliever Ismael Valdes. Lasorda immediately summoned closer Todd Worrell.

Worrell induced a sacrifice fly from Walt Weiss, but Joe Girardi greeted him with a run-scoring single, cutting the lead to 6-4. Worrell was pulled, and left-hander Omar Daal came in to face Walker. Walker hit a sharp grounder, but right to first baseman Eric Karros for the second out. Then it was Rudy Seanez’s turn, and he struck out Galarraga to secure the victory.

The paid crowd of 46,395 might have gone home disappointed, but the focus of conversation while walking onto the streets was Mondesi.

“He was unbelievable, wasn’t he?” Worrell said. “You just never know what he’s going to do next. He simply does the unexpected.

“Thank God I don’t have to pitch to him.”

Mondesi, showing the folks that he may be the league’s most exciting player, put on a clinic, and then wondered what he could do if he played every day at Coors Field.

“Maybe I’d hit .800,” Mondesi said, after going two for four with two runs, a double, a homer, and three runs driven in. “I think people are getting to know me.”

You want power?

Mondesi hit a 1-1 pitch by Rocky starter Omar Olivares in the first inning that soared over the left-field fence, over the left-field grandstands, all the way onto the concourse. It actually scattered patrons standing in line at the Grille Works, traveling an estimated 450 feet.

You want defense?

Bichette, batting with two outs in the third inning and Walker on first base, hit a sharp line drive into the right-center gap. Walker, running on the pitch, figured he’d score easily. Nope.

Mondesi raced to the ball, caught it cleanly off the carom, and threw it in before anyone realized what happened. Walker had no chance to score, and he and Bichette were left stranded when Martinez struck out Burks.

You want speed?

Mondesi, with two outs and Delino DeShields on third base in the fifth inning, slapped a hit up the middle. Center fielder Burks casually ran over to pick up the ball, only to hear the crowd screaming. Mondesi never stopped at first, and by the time Ellis realized it, Mondesi was standing at second for a double.

You want respect?

In the ninth inning, with one out and DeShields at second base, Baylor intentionally walked Mondesi to face Mike Piazza. The move backfired, with Piazza equaling a career high with his fourth hit--a run-scoring single up the middle--but the point was made.

“You talk about respect,” Lasorda said, “that may have been the ultimate. That was respect.”

Said Mondesi: “Tommy says to me they showed me a lot of respect. I think maybe they think I’m a good player now. What do you think?”