NewsMartin gets three-day respite from slump
Los Angeles (49-29) vs. Colorado (41-36), 12:10 p.m. PT
By David Ely / MLB.com
07/01/09 1:53 AM ET
LOS ANGELES -- Given the wear-and-tear associated with the position, it's not rare for a starting catcher to get an occasional day off. But when a two-time All-Star catcher sits on back-to-back days, it's usually for a specific reason. At least that's the case with Dodgers catcher Russell Martin, who will miss a second consecutive start Wednesday afternoon as the Dodgers take on the Rockies. A.J. Ellis started in Martin's place Tuesday, and manager Joe Torre said that Brad Ausmus will start on Wednesday. Martin did come into the game on Tuesday as a defensive substitution in the top of the ninth. He grounded out to pitcher Jason Marquis to lead off the bottom of the ninth. "Two days off," Torre said before Tuesday's game. "After the game last night, I sat with him -- he's just fighting it so bad right now. Two days off and then the off-day on Thursday." That makes three days of rest and relaxation for the struggling Martin. Martin is currently batting just .247 with one home run and 21 RBIs in 69 games played. Those numbers are well below his averages from past seasons. Martin hit .293 with 19 homers in 2007 and .280 with 13 long balls in '08. "I think he may be a little drained on the mental side," Torre said, "not being the offensive player he knows he is and knows he's going to be." A former catcher himself, Torre understands what it's like to battle through hitting slumps and then have to go out behind the plate the next inning. Torre said that despite the offensive struggles, Martin has remained solid defensively. "That takes a lot to be able to do that," Torre said. "He just needs a couple of mental days off. Physically, I don't think he's tired." Pitching matchupLAD: LHP Clayton Kershaw (5-5, 3.70 ERA)
On Friday against the Seattle Mariners, Kershaw displayed more control over his pitches than in many of his other starts this season. In six innings, Kershaw walked just one batter, tied for his lowest total of the year. The left-hander rarely got behind batters, and his superb location helped him strike out eight Mariners on the night. Kershaw did give up runs in the fourth and sixth innings, but he never allowed Seattle to mount a prolonged rally. He is 2-3 with a 7.30 ERA in five career starts against the Rockies. COL: RHP Jason Hammel (5-3, 4.21 ERA)
The Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum played big Friday night, and Hammel took advantage, forcing nine outs in the air. Most of them were off the end of bats. Dodger Stadium plays big usually, but the ball tends to travel during day games, so it remains to be seen if Hammel will use the same approach and if it'll work the same. But everything, it seems, is working for Hammel during a stretch where he is 5-0 with a 3.40 ERA in seven starts. Tidbits
The Dodgers are now 9-2 against the Rockies this season. ... Los Angeles has lost three of its last four and five of its last seven. ... The Dodgers were held to a season-low two hits Tuesday. ... Los Angeles finished June with a record of 14-12. Tickets
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• Thursday: Off-day
• Friday: Dodgers (Hiroki Kuroda, 2-4, 3.77) at Padres (Chad Gaudin, 4-6, 4.97), 7:05 p.m. PT
• Saturday: Dodgers (Randy Wolf, 3-3, 3.61) at Padres (Josh Geer, 1-3, 5.68), 1:10 p.m. PT
David Ely is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
