Martinez Moving Ahead

Three weeks into his recovery from shoulder surgery, Ramon Martinez is feeling no pain.

He will.

These three weeks are just the first tentative steps on a year-long journey back to the mound, a journey that figures to be made painful by the inevitable uncertainty over how it will end.

Martinez, who had his torn rotator cuff repaired and cartilage in the shoulder area trimmed on June 30, comes to Dodger Stadium every day to undergo stretching exercises under the guidance of the team’s trainers.

“I’ve actually been real surprised by how things have gone,” Martinez said. “I feel really good. There’s no pain. I’m a little stiff, but that’s normal.

“There is no doubt in my mind that I’m going to pitch again. I’m going to work twice as hard as I did last year to get back.”

Martinez missed 51 games last season because of a partial tear in the same shoulder. His shoulder healed last year without surgery, but, when the problem returned, it was determined that an operation was necessary.

Martinez will continue to do strengthening exercises, and, if all goes well, he will be allowed to begin throwing softly in about five months. He might be ready to throw from a mound by the time the Dodgers get to Vero Beach for spring training. But, realistically, Martinez won’t be ready to pitch in a game until next June at the earliest.

“It’s going to be a slow process,” Dodger physical therapist Pat Screnar said. “It’s been remarkable how well he’s done since the surgery, but then he had a great surgeon [Dr. Frank Jobe]. I’m not going to say he will be as good as someone who never had that surgery, but he should be pretty good.”

*

Forget all that interest from the Angels, the San Diego Padres, the San Francisco Giants and the Boston Red Sox over Cincinnati right-hander Pete Harnisch.

The 31-year-old Harnisch has signed a two-year contract with the Reds with an option for the following year, a contract that includes a no-trade clause through the end of this season.

ON DECK

* Opponent--Houston Astros, two games.

* Site--Dodger Stadium.

* Tonight--7:30.

* TV--Fox Sports West 2.

* Radio--AM 1150, KWKW (1330)

* Records--Dodgers 51-49, Astros 59-40.

* Record vs. Astros--5-2.

TONIGHT

DODGERS’ BRIAN BOHANON (2-6, 3.38 ERA) vs. ASTROS’ JOSE LIMA (8-5, 3.79 ERA)

* Update--Acquired in a July 10 trade with the New York Mets for right-hander reliever Greg McMichael, Bohanon is still seeking his first victory in a Dodger uniform. He is 0-2 with a 4.66 ERA in his two starts since the deal was made. Lima is 0-2 against the Dodgers this season.

* Thursday, 7 p.m.--Dave Mlicki (5-4, 5.04) vs. Sean Bergman (9-5, 3.18).