Martinez’s Minor Effort Goes Well

Ramon Martinez, on the disabled list since June 23 because of a right rotator cuff tear, pitched two scoreless innings Saturday for Class-A San Bernardino at Bakersfield in his first rehabilitation start.

Martinez gave up two hits and struck out two. He threw 25 pitches, well short of the 40-pitch maximum that had been set for him.

Martinez is scheduled to pitch for San Bernardino again Wednesday. He will be reevaluated after that game, but it’s likely he will make at least one more rehabilitation start after that.

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With Ismael Valdes (hamstring pull) due to come off the disabled list and start Monday and Martinez beginning his rehabilitation, the Dodgers may soon have to deal with another glut of starting pitchers. Nobody is more aware of that than Tom Candiotti, who began the season in the bullpen but was reinstated in the starting rotation when Martinez went on the disabled list.

To his credit, Candiotti not only accepted his bullpen assignment gracefully and made the necessary mental and physical adjustments, he thrived in his new role. But if the return of Valdes and Martinez means he will be sent back to the pen, Candiotti isn’t sure how he will react.

“Everyone knows we need Ramon to come back and come back strong, and when he does, the decision will be made at that time and I’ll comment,” Candiotti said. “I have a start [today] and I’m just worrying about that start and after that, I’ll worry about my next start--if I have a next start.

“I probably gained more coming out of the bullpen this year, learning how those guys think. It was tough until I accepted it, but once I did I welcomed the opportunity to pitch. I almost fought for more innings.

“My pitch, the knuckleball, is not conducive to coming out of the pen. So when I did come out of the pen, I didn’t throw as many knuckleballs. You don’t get a chance to get the feel of the pitch or get the rhythm. Sometimes it takes 30 or 40 pitches for that.”

That doesn’t mean he would refuse to pitch in relief again. “I wouldn’t mind going to the bullpen between starts,” he said, laughing. “I’d welcome that. I wouldn’t mind a three-man rotation. . . . After I got used to [relieving], it was a lot of fun. But for a lot of reasons, I’m a starter and I’ll always view myself as a starter until hitters tell me otherwise.”

Manager Bill Russell said he hasn’t decided what he will do because no time frame has been set for Martinez’s return.

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Mike Piazza made sure he didn’t have to test his newly healed hamstring Friday, when he hit a three-run home run that enabled him to take a leisurely tour of the bases. He cautioned Saturday not to expect him to be running out any triples--and he made sure he didn’t have to by hitting two more homers, a solo shot in the first inning and a two-run blast in the sixth.

“I’m just going to take my time with it and try not to do anything crazy,” he said. “I just have to keep treating it and try to keep loose. Fortunately, [Friday] I didn’t have to go first to third. It felt good to get our early [he was taken out in the sixth inning] and get it iced. It feels a lot stronger.”

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Piazza on Friday became the fourth Dodger to hit 20 home runs this season, joining Eric Karros (24), Raul Mondesi (22) and Todd Zeile (21). It’s the first time four or more Dodgers have hit 20 or more homers in a season since 1979, when Dusty Baker (23), Ron Cey (28), Joe Ferguson (20), Steve Garvey (28) and Davey Lopes (28) did it.

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

TODAYS GAME

DODGERS’ TOM CANDIOTTI (6-3, 3.22 ERA) vs. PHILLIES’ MATT BEECH (0-5, 5.83 ERA)

Dodger Stadium, 1 p.m.

Radio--KABC (790), KWKW (1330).

* Update--Candiotti will make his eighth start and 31st appearance. Since being summoned from the bullpen, he has been 3-1 as a starter with a 3.53 earned-run average. Throughout his career, he has pitched well in July: 24-22 with a 3.01 ERA. As the Thursday deadline for making trades without clearing waivers approaches, Manager Bill Russell doesn’t anticipate any changes because he sees no glaring holes. “Other organizations want pitchers and we’re not going to give up any pitching,” he said. “I’m not saying nothing’s going to happen, but pretty much what you see out there is what the team is going to be the rest of the year. We’re hitting now and the team is scoring runs. The only thing we’re waiting for is [Ismael] Valdes and [Ramon] Martinez.”