BASEBALL / DAILY REPORT : DODGERS : Martinez Struggles to Regain Control

Although he still doesn’t look like the old Ramon Martinez, the new Martinez was good enough to hold the San Diego Padres to one unearned run and three hits in six innings Sunday.

However, the new Martinez--he throws more change-ups and curveballs, fewer fastballs--is still struggling with his control.

Of 82 pitches, he threw 43 balls and 39 strikes. He threw first-pitch balls to 20 of 25 hitters. He walked three and struck out none.

And 11 of his 18 outs came on balls hit in the air, many of them line drives.

“He pitched better than last time out,” said Dodger Manager Tom Lasorda, not needing to remind anyone that Martinez had allowed one run and seven hits in 2 2/3 innings against the San Francisco Giants opening day.

Martinez said he didn’t feel any better than he did opening day.

“I felt the same as I did last time, but last time, I threw my fastball more,” he said. “This time I had more changeups and breaking pitches, and I found my rhythm better.”

When asked about his continued control problems, Martinez shrugged.

“It’s not my mechanics, I don’t know what it is,” he said.

Kal Daniels aggravated his right knee during a recent at-bat, and was a late scratch from the lineup Sunday. Daniels played in one of the four games in San Diego.

Perhaps nobody had an odder performance Sunday than Steve Wilson, who had not allowed an earned run since joining the Dodgers last Sept. 6. This included 15 regular-season appearances and nine spring training appearances. Wilson took over from Martinez in the seventh inning and, in a span of five batters, allowed two hits and threw two wild pitches.

When Gary Sheffield homered against Tim Crews, Wilson had two earned runs to his name. “I’m not really thinking about that streak,” Wilson said afterward. “I want to do better than that no matter what.”

Eric Karros vowed that his brief encounter with Randy Myers Sunday, in which Myers struck him out with the bases loaded on four pitches, will not be their last encounter. “He just got me out, but I’m going to get him sometimes too,” Karros said.