Karros, Martinez Get Dodgers Off the Skids

If the Dodgers were to keep fretting over every rumor or flinching with every near-trade, things weren’t going to go well.

On Wednesday, a day when the bizarre almost settled into the routine, the Dodgers broke a four-game losing streak with a 7-4 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals in front of 35,647 at Dodger Stadium.

Eric Karros tied a career high with four hits, and drove in five runs, including one with a fifth-inning home run, only his second of the season. The Dodgers also got a solid outing from Ramon Martinez, who started shakily but went seven innings and gave up two runs--one earned--on five hits. Martinez walked five and struck out six.

And Jose Vizcaino, a hot hitter of late, gave the Dodgers a 4-1 lead when he drove in two runs with a fourth-inning single.

The Dodger bullpen gave cause for alarm in the eighth when Mark Guthrie and Antonio Osuna combined to load the bases with two out, but Osuna retired Ron Gant on a long fly ball to center.

In the ninth, Gary Gaetti hit a two-out, two-run homer off Osuna to cut the Cardinals’ deficit to three. Scott Radinsky struck out Tom Pagnozzi to get the final out for his 11th save.

There was no news on Day 3 of the Hideo Nomo Trade Watch, although Executive Vice President Fred Claire said he is focused on four teams he wouldn’t name, and the organization seems to feel comfortable a deal will be made before the seven-day deadline expires Monday.

Claire talked with Walt Jocketty, St. Louis vice president and general manager, at the stadium Wednesday, and said he wouldn’t rule out any team--including the Angels. But the prospects of reaching a satisfactory deal are probably stronger with a team such as the New York Mets.

“We’d be willing to deal with anybody to make the best deal,” Claire said. “I’m not concerned about who the deal’s with, I’m more concerned about making the best deal that we can. Ultimately, you’re trying to compete with 29 other teams.”

As for how quickly a deal can be done, “Honestly, it’s impossible to say. I’m not trying to be coy or tricky,” Claire said, though he is wary of his leverage slipping as the deadline to trade Nomo draws closer.

The Dodger players are trying to cope with instability that might become almost the norm.

“This will go down probably as one of the more interesting years in Dodger history,” said Bobby Bonilla, who believes the players are adjusting somewhat to the uncertainty that began with the Mike Piazza trade that brought him to the Dodgers.

As for when the other shoe will drop regarding Nomo, who was designated for assignment Monday: “I don’t think anybody’s waiting on anything. Nobody should be waiting, honestly,” Bonilla said.

“We have to concentrate on what we need to do today.”