Nomo OK, May Not Miss a Turn

Right-hander Hideo Nomo has nothing more serious than a bruise on his right arm above the elbow and may not miss a turn in the rotation.

Fourteen hours after being hit by a line drive off the bat of the Philadelphia Phillies’ Scott Rolen, Nomo engaged in his normal pregame activity, playing catch in the outfield before Sunday’s game.

Nomo, through an interpreter, reported no lingering pain from the blow, which caused the Dodgers to take him out of the game as a precautionary measure.

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Add pain-free pitching: Ramon Martinez said Sunday morning he had no pain or soreness after pitching two innings Saturday for the Dodgers’ Class A team, the San Bernardino Stampede.

“And no walks,” Dodger Manager Bill Russell added.

When he threw a simulated game last week at Dodger Stadium, Martinez, who has been out since mid-June because of a small tear in the rotator cuff on his throwing shoulder, had no problem with his velocity, only his control. That’s understandable for someone who had been off that long.

So it’s also understandable that the Dodgers are enthused that Martinez has found his control so quickly.

He will make a second rehabilitation start Wednesday at San Bernardino against Lancaster, will probably pitch in next Monday’s Dodger exhibition game at Cooperstown, N.Y., and will be back in the rotation after that unless unforeseen problems arise.

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The Dodgers will option catcher Henry Blanco to Albuquerque today to make room for right-hander Ismael Valdes, who is coming off the disabled list.

Blanco, who was brought up while Mike Piazza’s status was uncertain because of a hamstring strain, leaves with a perfect batting average. He singled in his only at-bat for the Dodgers.

At Albuquerque, he was hitting .312 with five home runs and 34 RBI in 63 games.

ON DECK

* Opponent--Pittsburgh Pirates, two games.

* Site--Dodger Stadium.

* Tonight--7.

* TV--Fox Sports West 2.

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

* Records--Dodgers 56-49, Pirates 52-53.

* Record vs. Pirates--4-1.

DODGERS’ ISMAEL VALDES (5-9, 2.97 ERA) vs. PIRATES’ JON LIEBER (6-10, 4.65 ERA)

* Update--When Valdes tumbled to the ground July 4 in San Diego, clutching his strained left hamstring, it appeared as if the strain on the Dodger pitching staff might also be intense. As it turned, it gave the Dodgers a chance to look at left-hander Dennis Reyes, and allowed him to get experience that could prove useful in the stretch. Now Valdes returns, trying to regain the momentum that saw him go 2-1 with an 0.84 earned-run average in his three starts before missing 18 games. The Dodgers have won four of the six games on this home stand with two remaining against Pittsburgh. The Dodgers took two of three from the Pirates in the season-opening home stand, but haven’t faced them since playing in Pittsburgh on April 13.

* Tuesday, 1 p.m.--Pedro Astacio (6-7, 3.90) vs. Steve Cook (8-9, 3.44).