Dodgers Hold an Ace

Why even tell them?

Let Matt Kemp think Pedro Martinez is just another journeyman right-hander who frequently gives up home runs to players with 10 days of big league service.

Let Russell Martin believe Martinez regularly surrenders booming doubles off the center-field fence and sharp singles with runners in scoring position.

When such apparently blissful ignorance leads to a Dodgers victory capped by Eric Gagne’s first save in nearly a year, why spoil it with too much information?

Kemp and Martin continued to cement themselves as the elite among the bumper crop of Dodgers rookies, delivering the key blows in a six-run sixth inning that chased Martinez and led to an 8-5 victory over the New York Mets on Tuesday night at Dodger Stadium.

The payoff for the prolific Dodgers offense was Gagne coming into a save situation for the first time since June 12, 2005, with a three-run cushion. He struck out Carlos Delgado and David Wright and retired Endy Chavez on a fly ball to center field.

Gagne has converted 19 saves in a row dating to September 2004. It was almost as if he had never been away.

“That was great to watch,” Kemp said. “It’s exciting when he comes into the game and gets it done.”

Derek Lowe (5-3) wasn’t feeling well, but he survived a rocky beginning to outduel Martinez (5-2), his former Boston Red Sox teammate and future Hall of Famer.

Martinez came in with 202 career victories, including five this season, having allowed only 44 hits in 75 2/3 innings. He had made it through at least six innings in each of his 11 starts.

Not this time.

“These young kids don’t care,” Dodgers Manager Grady Little said. “They just go up there and swing.”

Nomar Garciaparra signaled to Dodgers young and old that Martinez might be vulnerable, hitting a two-run home run in the first inning. Lowe gave them back in the second, though, and Martinez sailed until the sixth despite giving up Martin’s long double in the fourth.

Lowe bore down as well despite walking four, and the game had settled into the anticipated pitchers’ duel when the Dodgers batted in the sixth.

And did they ever bat in the sixth.

J.D. Drew led off with a single and Kemp hit a line drive that barely cleared the fence in left, his fourth home run in 10 games since coming up from double A.

The trouble had only begun for Martinez. Rookie Willy Aybar extended his hitting streak to 12 with a single and second baseman Jose Valentin couldn’t handle a throw from third baseman David Wright on a ground ball by Ramon Martinez to put runners at first and third.

Martin came through again, poking a line drive to right to score Aybar and chasing Pedro Martinez (5-2).

Rookie Andre Ethier, pinch-hitting for Lowe, drove in a run on a force out and advanced to second on Valentin’s second error of the inning. Rafael Furcal drove in Ethier with a single and eventually moved to third with two out and Kemp at the plate for the second time in the inning.

Kemp saw nothing but breaking balls from Heath Bell, but the third one bounced to the backstop and Furcal dashed home to extend the lead to 8-2.

The Mets came back in the seventh against rookie Jonathan Broxton, who had been dominant in 16 appearances but did not retire any of the four batters he faced. Three scored, setting the stage for Gagne.

Looking ahead, Little said second baseman Jeff Kent still isn’t taking full swings, although he is expected to come off the disabled list for a series at San Diego beginning Tuesday.

Kent’s veteran leadership and consistent bat will be welcomed back. In the meantime, the Dodgers will ride Garciaparra, Gagne and the rookies.

Even when they begin gaining an appreciation for who they have conquered.

“Pedro is a good pitcher,” Kemp said. “Today we kind of had his number.”