Today Is a Key for Martinez

Dodger ace Ramon Martinez says he’s ready to go and his bosses seem to agree. For the most part.

While the Dodgers were excited by Martinez’s performance in his fifth--and final--rehabilitation start Thursday night, they won’t say when the right-hander will return to the rotation. Manager Bill Russell will observe how Martinez’s shoulder responds after he throws in the bullpen today, in his normal routine between starts, before making a decision.

However, unless Martinez, on the disabled list since June 15 because of a small tear in the rotator cuff on his throwing shoulder, experiences pain, he probably will start Tuesday against the New York Mets at Shea Stadium.

“I completely feel 100%,” Martinez said Friday at Dodger Stadium. “I feel great. After last night, there’s no doubt I’m ready.”

Russell and physical therapist Pat Screnar were in attendance Thursday night at Lancaster, when Martinez threw 89 pitches in 4 1/3 innings for Class-A San Bernardino. Russell said Martinez is done with rehabilitation starts. Screnar said the signs regarding Martinez are good.

“All indications are he is healing well and is pain free,” Screnar said. “His strength and velocity are there, and he’s recovering well. The only goal we really had was to get him around the 90-pitch range and he did that. Really, this is a best-case scenario.”

Screnar said that although surgery can’t be ruled out yet, it appears “much less likely now” that Martinez will require it. At the time the injury was discovered, team physician Frank Jobe said there was a good chance surgery could be avoided. Screnar said there are no plans for Martinez to undergo another MRI exam.

“Yeah, it looks like he’s ready to pitch,” pitching coach Dave Wallace said. “But we still need to see how he throws [today] and assess it from there before we can be sure.”

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Former manager Tom Lasorda, inducted into the Hall of Fame on Aug. 3, had his uniform number retired Friday night during a pregame ceremony.

Lasorda, who wore No. 2, is the ninth Dodger to have his number retired. The others: Pee Wee Reese, 1; Duke Snider, 4; Jim Gilliam, 19; Walter Alston, 24; Sandy Koufax, 32; Roy Campanella, 39; Jackie Robinson, 42; and Don Drysdale, 53.

“The Hall of Fame is a great honor,” Russell said. “But when you have your number retired by your organization that’s the ultimate honor, especially with the company that he’s in.”

TONIGHT’S GAME

DODGERS’ CHAN HO PARK (11-6, 3.10 ERA) vs. REDS’ KENT MERCKER (8-8, 3.81 ERA)

Dodger Stadium, 7:30 p.m.

Radio--KABC (790), KWKW (1330)

* Update--Park pitched his first complete game, in his 33rd career start, Monday night, a 2-1 victory over the Chicago Cubs at Dodger Stadium. The victory also ended a two-game Dodger losing streak. “The young man is really coming on as a stopper,” Bill Russell said. “He knew we needed a big lift and he gave it to us.” Park, 24, is establishing himself as one of the game’s best young pitchers. Opponents are batting only .210 against him--second best in the National League. Left-hander Mercker pitched a no-hitter against the Dodgers with Atlanta on April 8, 1994. He has made 22 appearances in his career against the Dodgers, going 2-2 with one save and a 2.37 ERA.