Dodgers, Martinez Enjoy Relatively Successful Night

MONTREAL —  It was a game that will be debated and dissected in the Dominican Republic this winter. Perhaps one day it will even be treasured in the Martinez family.

The game the Martinez brothers dreaded Thursday night, facing one another for the first time in their lives, emerged into a classic pitching duel that was far more enjoyable than either imagined.

It ended with Ramon Martinez as the winner in the Dodgers’ 2-1 victory over the Montreal Expos, keeping the Dodgers two games behind the San Diego Padres in the National League West, and one-half game ahead of the Expos in the wild-card race.

Expo starter Pedro Martinez (11-9), the younger brother, was absolutely brilliant. He struck out a career-high 12 batters, yielding only six hits and two runs in his complete-game performance. His only mistakes were back-to-back home runs to Mike Piazza and Eric Karros in the fourth inning.

Ramon Martinez (11-6) was better. He permitted only three infield hits, and yielded one run in eight-plus innings before Todd Worrell closed out the ninth for his 36th save.

“I was really happy,” Pedro Martinez said. “That’s probably the only game I’ll ever feel good about losing.

“I just didn’t want my brother to look like Cy Young and I was the other pitcher on the pile. But Ramon was great, wasn’t he? Deep inside my heart, I cheered for him.”

Pedro, who usually sits on the bench and prays for Ramon, or goes back into the clubhouse and openly cheers each time his brother faces the Expos, this time had to smother his feelings.

Yet, during the only time in the game that Ramon struggled--walking three consecutive batters and forcing in a run in the third inning--Pedro confided later that he was upset.

What was Pedro thinking when Ramon’s wildness gave him a 1-0 lead?

“I was hoping he’d make some adjustments,” Pedro said. “I was afraid he was hurt. I wanted him to start throwing strikes. I’m glad he did.”

The brothers showed the utmost respect for one another, even while batting. Only once did either even smile, and that occurred in the seventh when Pedro feigned a bunt, and walked against Ramon. Neither got a hit, despite playful boasts that they would homer off each other.

When Pedro finally was through for the night, striking out the side in the ninth and drawing a standing ovation from the crowd of 16,551 at Olympic Stadium, Ramon caught his attention from the Dodger bench and made a gesture.

“It was a sign to show him that it was a great game and how proud I was of him,” Ramon said. “It also was a sign that showed him that I love him very much.”

In the end, it wasn’t nearly as painful as the brothers anticipated.

“Going into the game, I thought there would be too much emotion for those guys,” said Piazza, who hit his 31st homer. “I thought the rotation should have been juggled somewhat. But I didn’t detect any joking between these guys. They took care of business.

“It’s a pretty amazing story.

“It’s a shame somebody had to lose a game like this, but fortunately for us, it was the right brother.”

Ramon conceded that it was quite pleasurable. He said that he would even welcome future matchups.

And Pedro?

“Do I want to do it again?” Pedro asked. “No. I hope that’s it. I don’t think I’ll ever say it was a good time.

“But it was a good game.”

The brothers, so fearful that one of their feelings would be hurt, or that one would endure a horrible outing, were relieved. Neither had time to check on the reaction from their parents or younger brother, Jesus Martinez of the Dodgers’ double-A team in San Antonio, but they figure the family must have been proud.

Ramon talked several times with Pedro, telling him not to permit his emotions to ruin his performance. Dodger pitching coach Dave Wallace took the brothers aside Wednesday, telling them to enjoy themselves during the game.

“I thought it was great, they knew what they had to do,” Wallace said. “You just had to look at Ramon, and see the look in his eye, and you knew he was going to have a good one. Pedro was the same way.

“In time, they’ll look at this game as something very, very special.”

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

Brothers in Arms

Pitching line s for Pedro and Ramon Martinez Thursday:

*--*

Pedro Category Ramon 9 Inn. Pitched 8 6 Hits 3 2 Earned Runs 1 1 Walks 5 *12 Strikeouts 7 125 Pitches 119

*--*

*--career high