Martinez Stops the Bad Start

Ramon Martinez took the mound Sunday with the Dodgers hoping he would provide the first shining moment in their bleak start.

He was the right guy for the job.

The ace right-hander had a perfect game for 6 2/3 innings, a no-hitter for 7 1/3 and wound up giving up one hit in eight innings--helping the Dodgers end their season-opening four-game losing streak with a 1-0 victory over the Reds before 19,790 at Cinergy Field.

“I was thinking about the first four games, about the offense struggling, about all of that,” Martinez said. “I knew it would be a tough game because of how everything has been going, so I just wanted to try to pick the team up.”

He did that and more. Eddie Taubensee had the only hit against Martinez (1-1)--a single to right with one out in the eighth. Martinez struck out seven and walked one.

And Raul Mondesi and Scott Radinsky also played important roles for the Dodgers. Mondesi provided the offense with a solo home run in the seventh, and Radinsky earned the team’s first save by pitching out of a jam in the ninth.

The Dodgers avoided matching the worst start in the franchise’s history in Los Angeles and ended the Reds’ three-game winning streak.

“This was just like the old days, when [Sandy] Koufax and [Don] Drysdale were pitching,” Manager Bill Russell said. “You would give them a lead, and they would do the rest. We only gave Ramon one run, and he accepted the challenge and shut those guys down.”

The players laughed and congratulated each other at the end of the game and praised Martinez for making the scene possible.

“We’ve got music playing in [the clubhouse] because our ace went out there and took care of business,” second baseman Eric Young said. “He did what an ace is supposed to do when his team is struggling, he came through. He went out there and had a tremendous effort. Just tremendous.”

Martinez lasted only 4 2/3 innings in a 6-0 opening-day loss to the St. Louis Cardinals, giving up a grand slam to Mark McGwire. But on Sunday, he controlled the Reds.

“Ramon had his best stuff, with his best command, that I’ve seen in a long time,” catcher Mike Piazza said. “It was amazing that he was throwing so hard with that location. He was awesome.”

Martinez retired the first 20 batters he faced. His perfect game ended when Willie Greene walked, on a full count, with two out in the seventh. Eduardo Perez popped out to short for the final out.

Mondesi led off the top of the seventh with a homer to left-center against Red starter Mike Remlinger, who had two victories and a save against the Dodgers last season. Remlinger (0-2) also pitched well, giving up one run on four hits in 6 1/3 innings.

But he was no match for Martinez.

“Martinez did whatever he wanted to,” Greene said. “He threw hard and he had great command. [Remlinger] was good too, but we couldn’t do anything.”

Taubensee singled to right on a full count in the eighth, ending the no-hitter. But after a conference at the mound with pitching coach Glenn Gregson, Martinez got a double-play grounder from Bret Boone to end the inning and his work.

With the no-hitter gone, Russell removed Martinez after he had thrown 113 pitches, including 69 strikes. Radinsky, who is still competing with Antonio Osuna to be the full-time closer, pitched the ninth.

With two out, he gave up a single to right-center by Chris Stynes and hit Lenny Harris with a pitch, putting the tying run at second. But Greene grounded out to end the game.

“With the way Ramon was pitching, I definitely wanted to nail down the game for him,” Radinsky said. “He was a tough act to follow.”

Martinez pitched a no-hitter in 1995 against the Florida Marlins, and he was disappointed he didn’t get his second against the Reds.

“It would have been great if I got the no-hitter, but winning the game was the most important thing,” he said. “We haven’t gotten many breaks so far, so hopefully this will help us.”

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* RANDY HARVEY

Dodgers needed a victory in the worst way, but they got a good one. C2