Hollandsworth Aggravates Leg Injury

The Dodger outfield situation became more muddled Monday when Todd Hollandsworth re-injured his left hamstring.

Hollandsworth aggravated the strain, which he suffered March 9 against the Kansas City Royals, while running to first base in the fifth inning of the Dodgers’ 5-0 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals at Jupiter, Fla.

“I felt it out of the box, and I knew it was the same thing again right away,” said Hollandsworth, who started in center field. “It’s one of those things where you just know.”

Hollandsworth, who went two for three with a run scored, was immediately removed from the game, and ice was applied to his leg. He is listed as day to day, and will continue to undergo therapy.

Roger Cedeno, expected to start in center, has been sidelined since March 2 because of a strained right hamstring. He has suffered a setback in his rehabilitation because of the unseasonably cold weather in Florida, and the Dodgers are unsure when he will return.

It seems likely that Cedeno will begin the season on the disabled list, so Manager Bill Russell is considering opening with Hollandsworth in center and rookie Paul Konerko in left. But what if Hollandsworth is slowed as well?

Then Thomas Howard, expected to be the fourth outfielder, moves into the starting lineup.

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Right-hander Ramon Martinez, selected Sunday as the opening-day starter, pitched five scoreless innings. Martinez gave up one hit, and struck out four with two walks. “He’s as locked in as you would like a pitcher to be,” pitching coach Glenn Gregson said. . . . Eric Karros hit a two-run homer in the first inning, his third this spring. . . . Konerko had two hits in four at-bats, raising his average to .333 (16 for 48) with two homers and a team-leading 10 runs batted in.