Martinez’s Pain Leads to Park’s Joy

In a game that rookie pitcher Chan Ho Park and the rest of South Korea will forever treasure in history, the Dodgers’ 3-1 victory Saturday over the Chicago Cubs may forever be remembered as a calamity to their season.

Dodger starter Ramon Martinez suffered a torn right groin muscle that is expected to sideline him for a minimum of six weeks, and perhaps much longer. Martinez, the Dodgers’ ace who never had been on the disabled list in his career, suffered the injury when he slipped running to first base, and left the game in excruciating pain. He was immediately put on the 15-day disabled list.

Park, who pitched four shutout innings for his first career victory, will replace Martinez in the starting rotation. It’s a dream come true for Park, who became so frustrated about the possibility of being sent back to triple-A Albuquerque this spring that he actually talked about whether he should immediately serve his 30-month obligation in the Korean Army.

“I’m so happy right now, it’s my happiest day,” Park said. “Maybe tomorrow I’ll be even more happy, but right now, I’m too excited.

“I just hope Ramon comes back. We need him. He’s our best pitcher. The team is down, but the feeling is a little better because we won.”

Martinez, who signed a three-year, $15-million contract over the winter after winning at least 17 games in three of the last six seasons, suffered the injury with two outs in the second inning. Batting with runners on first and third, Martinez swung at the first pitch from Cub starter Jaime Navarro. He took a step, slipped and, while he tried to push off again, collapsed, clutching his groin.

Martinez immediately was taken off the field, and Todd Worrell and Roger Cedeno carried him up the stairs into the clubhouse. He was examined by Cub physician Michael Schafer.

“He was in more pain than disappointment,” said Worrell, who pitched the final two innings for the save. “It’s going to be a tough heal. Hopefully he can pick us up when he gets back, because I think it’s going to be awhile.”

Reliever Antonio Osuna, who was called up from triple-A Albuquerque to replace Martinez, and reliever Rudy Seanez suffered strained groins last season. Seanez was out for 20 days, and Osuna was out for 27 days, before they could even begin rehabilitative assignments.

“This is probably the most severe of those three injuries,” Dodger trainer Charlie Strasser said.

Manager Tom Lasorda, angry these games are being played in the 36-degree temperatures, said that Martinez’s injury can be traced directly to the cold.

“Here’s a guy who was in the best of shape, he does more running than anybody you’ll ever see,” Lasorda said, “but he pulls his groin muscle because of the cold weather. Terrible. Just terrible.”

The sudden and dramatic injury to Martinez left the Dodgers needing a pitcher. Lasorda called for Park, who was sitting warmly in the Dodger clubhouse watching the game on TV.

Park hurried to the dugout, but to calm his nerves, the Dodgers had him warm up in the bullpen instead of on the mound. He warmed up for about 10 minutes, stepped to the mound, took a couple of deep breaths, and struck out cleanup hitter Sammy Sosa on four pitches.

He got through the second inning, watched his teammates score a run for him in the top of the third--courtesy of back-to-back Cub errors and two walks--but the lead appeared short-lived. In the bottom of the third, the Cubs loaded the bases with one out and Mark Grace at the plate.

On a 3-and-1 pitch, Grace belted a ball that appeared headed out of the park, but the 13-mph wind kept it in play, and right fielder Raul Mondesi made a one-handed catch against the ivy. Cub pitcher Jaime Navarro, on third base, thought it was a hit. Instead of tagging up and scoring, he ran halfway home before he saw Mondesi catch the ball, and it was too late to tag up.

“I was lucky, very lucky,” Park said, clutching the game ball and lineup card.

Park, given the reprieve, came right back and fired three fastballs past Sosa, striking him out.

Park pitched through the fifth inning with no problems, but after 85 pitches, the Dodgers turned the game over to the bullpen. Mark Guthrie, Darren Hall and Worrell closed it out, ending the Dodgers’ four-game losing streak, and perhaps launching Park’s career as a starter.

“They’re dancing in the streets of Korea,” Lasorda said. “I’m sure all Koreans are very, very happy and proud of Chan Ho. Nobody’s pulled harder for him than I have.

“It was a great day for him, the first win by a Korean.

“I think this will be just the first of many.”