FOR A CHANGE, MARTINEZ WINS : DODGERS 7, PITTSBURGH 1.Byline: Kevin Acee Daily News Staff Writer The bats didn't exactly spring to life as everyone is waiting for. But it was a cold day in . . . Pittsburgh. And Ramon Martinez Ramon Martinez is the name of several people:
Making the most of eight hits, the Dodgers spoiled the Pittsburgh Pirates' home opener Friday with a 7-1 victory in front of a sellout crowd of 43,126 at Three Rivers Stadium • • [ . The Dodgers (7-3) are in second place in the National League's Western Division, percentage points behind the Colorado Rockies For the National Hockey League team (1976 – 1982), now known as the New Jersey Devils, see . The Colorado Rockies are a Major League Baseball team based in Denver, Colorado. They are in the West Division of the National League. (6-2). Martinez reached what is becoming his customary triple-digit pitch count, and he got into trouble in the fifth inning. But he made it past the fifth, his team scored some runs while he was in the game and he was a winner. All firsts for 1997. ``When your team scores runs early, you go out there so much more relaxed,'' said Martinez, who left his two previous starts after five innings trailing 2-0 and 3-0, respectively. The Dodgers scored two runs in the third (on three singles and a sacrifice fly) and another in the sixth (on Raul Mondesi's fourth home run of the season) Friday, and Martinez had a 3-0 lead of his own when he left after the seventh. He was almost assured the victory when Greg Gagne Greg Gagne may refer to:
The only downer down·er n. A depressant or sedative drug, such as a barbiturate or tranquilizer. on the night was that the Dodgers lost catcher Mike Piazza Michael Joseph Piazza (born September 4, 1968 in Norristown, Pennsylvania) is an American Major League Baseball player who currently plays for the Oakland Athletics. He began his career with the Los Angeles Dodgers and played for the Florida Marlins, New York Mets, San Diego Padres in the second inning when he was hit on the elbow by Francisco Cordova's first pitch of the inning. After negative X-rays, Piazza was diagnosed with a bruise. His readiness to play will be evaluated today. The Dodgers let the Pirates go all the way through the lineup - and then some - before Martinez hit catcher Jason Kendall Jason Daniel Kendall (born June 26, 1974 in San Diego, California) is a Major League Baseball catcher whom is currently a free agent. He is the son of former catcher Fred Kendall, who played in the majors from 1969–1980. with a pitch in the sixth inning. In successive sentences successive sentences n. in criminal law, the imposition of the penalty for each of several crimes, one after the other, as compared to "concurrent sentences" (at the same time). , Martinez said there was no difference between the way he felt Friday and his two previous starts, and that he felt better than he had in those starts. Whatever. Maybe both were true. He threw 106 pitches Friday and has thrown 302 in 17 innings this season. But for the most part he had better control than his previous outings. ``He struggled at times,'' pitching coach Dave Wallace said. ``He got out of sync. But here's a guy who's not throwing his best stuff, but you look up there and he put up seven 0s.'' Martinez did get into trouble in the first inning when Al Martin hit a two-out single and stole second. On Mark Johnson's single to right field, Martin was waved around third. Mondesi's throw was right to the plate and Piazza blocked Martin for the out. The exceptions to Martinez's good control were the fourth and fifth innings. In the fourth, he walked two batters and gave up a two-out single before striking out Jose Guillen. In the fifth, protecting a 2-0 lead, Martinez gave up a leadoff double to No. 8 hitter Joe Randa Joseph Gregory Randa (born December 18, 1969 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin) is a former Major League Baseball player. He was primarily a third baseman during his career. High School Years . Martinez made a great stretch to bare-hand pinch-hitter Dale Sveum's chopper back to the mound and threw out Randa. After the second out, Jermaine Allensworth Jermaine Lamont Allensworth (born January 11, 1972 in Anderson, Indiana) is a professional baseball player who played in the Major Leagues primarily as an outfielder from 1996-1999 and currently plays Independent league baseball for the Gary SouthShore RailCats of the Northern doubled off the wall in right field, sending Sveum to third. Martinez then walked Martin to load the bases. Facing cleanup hitter Johnson, Martinez threw a changeup that Johnson popped almost straight back behind home plate. Tom Prince, who replaced Piazza, made the catch to end the threat. ``That was the turning point of the game,'' Dodgers manager Bill Russell said. ``He made a great pitch to Johnson. That's the type of pitcher Ramon is. He gets in jams and he makes adjustments.'' It wasn't until after Martinez left that the Pirates got their run, off Scott Radinsky in the eighth inning. Radinsky was relieved by Darren Dreifort, who got the final out of the inning. So that it wouldn't be eight days between appearances, Pedro Astacio pitched the ninth. Astacio, who pitched three innings of relief for the win in the Dodgers' 3-2 victory over New York New York, state, United States New York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of on Monday, had his first two pitches hit for a single and a double. But he ended the game with three straight outs. CAPTION(S): Photo Photo: (color) MARTINEZ |
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