Ramon Martinez Calls It Quits

Former Dodger Ramon Martinez retired Wednesday after making four ineffective starts for the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Martinez was 0-2 with an 8.62 earned-run average, failing to last past the fifth inning in any start.

The Pirates signed Martinez late in spring training after three starters went down with injuries. He was 0-3 with a 5.83 ERA in five spring starts with the Dodgers, but was released after failing to win the fifth spot in their rotation.

Pirate Manager Lloyd McClendon discussed sending Martinez to the bullpen after Tuesday’s start, but it was a move Martinez did not want to make.

“Ramon is a class act,” McClendon said. “I think it was a real tough decision for him. As he explained it to me, he was used to performing at a real high level. It was real tough for him to go out and compete under those circumstances. He felt like he was letting his team down and didn’t want to continue.”

Martinez, 33, was 135-88 with the Dodgers, Boston Red Sox and Pirates, including a 10-8 record and 6.13 ERA last season with Boston.

Martinez missed nearly 18 months, from June 1998 to September 1999, because of rotator-cuff surgery and had trouble regaining his velocity and control after the surgery.

His best season was 1990, when he was 20-6 with the Dodgers. He also had two 17-win seasons and pitched a no-hitter against Florida in 1995.

To replace Martinez on their roster, the Pirates called up former starting second baseman Warren Morris from triple-A Nashville.

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Texas catcher Ivan Rodriguez was placed on the 15-day disabled list because of a bruised left heel.

To replace Rodriguez on the roster, Texas has purchased the contract of catcher Mike Hubbard from Oklahoma of the triple-A Pacific Coast League. Hubbard was to join the Rangers today.

Rodriguez was hurt when his heel hit first base awkwardly as he ran out a grounder in the ninth inning Friday night at Cleveland.

Rodriguez is batting .309 with six home runs and 11 runs batted in.

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The Chicago Cubs fined pitcher Julian Tavarez and said he will attend sensitivity training for making derogatory comments about fans in San Francisco.

Tavarez used a profanity and a slur against homosexuals after a game Saturday against the Giants. The Cubs said his fine will go to charitable organizations.

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Indian pitcher Jaret Wright gave up two runs and four hits in eight innings for the triple-A Buffalo Bisons in the first start of his minor league rehabilitation assignment.

Wright, recovering from August shoulder surgery, walked none and struck out seven.