Dodgers Ready to Go It Alone

The Dodgers still were numb with the news Wednesday that center fielder Brett Butler might have played his last game, but they vowed this would not ruin their season. Then they went out and beat the Cincinnati Reds, 4-2, in front of 28,303 at Dodger Stadium.

Starter Ramon Martinez (3-2) pitched his best game of the season--yielding six hits and two runs while striking out eight in eight innings, continuing his domination of Cincinnati. He has won nine consecutive starts against the Reds and has not lost to them since June 14, 1992.

The Dodgers supported Martinez with little offense, but they were aggressive. They scored their four runs on only five hits, taking advantage of their first double steal of the season and a Reds’ error.

Todd Worrell flirted with danger in the ninth but closed out the game by striking out Jeff Branson with runners on second and third for his 10th save.

Just like that, the Dodgers (18-13) moved to within three games of the division-leading Colorado Rockies and one game of the San Francisco Giants.

“Nobody’s going to feel sorry for us,” first baseman Eric Karros said. “They couldn’t care less. That’s why we’ve just got to go out and play.”

Besides, the Dodgers kept reminding themselves, they made the playoffs last season when Butler sat out most of the year undergoing cancer treatments and suffering a broken hand.

“This time, the uncertainty is gone,” Karros said. “It’s not like a year ago when we were treading new water and didn’t know if we could do it. It’s not a good thing we went through last year, but it made us much more prepared.

“He’s not the first guy to be injured and we thought we were in trouble. And the way things have gone around here, it wouldn’t be right if we didn’t have adversity.”

Butler, who has torn cartilage in his left shoulder that could cause him to retire if surgery is required, wants to believe the team will be fine without him. Billy Ashley will be given a chance to prove he’s an everyday left fielder, and rookie second baseman Wilton Guerrero and center fielder Todd Hollandsworth will share the leadoff duties.

“The team is more equipped this time to handle it without me,” said Butler, who was batting .356. “It’s not like I was going to take them to the promised land by myself. They’ll be all right.

“It’s not impossible that Billy Ashley could carry this club. He could very well be the main character on the drive for the pennant. There’s always unexpected heroes that step up in these situations. That’s what championship teams are made of.”

There were no heroics by Ashley this night, but he played an integral part in the two-run fourth inning that gave the Dodgers a 4-1 lead.

Karros led off the fourth with a single under the glove of Red starter Pete Schourek (2-3). Raul Mondesi walked. Manager Bill Russell then called for a hit-and-run with Todd Zeile at the plate. Zeile swung and missed at the inside pitch, but the Dodgers still pulled off the double steal.

Zeile popped up to second baseman Bret Boone for the first out, bringing up Ashley. Ashley hit a sharp grounder to shortstop Pokey Reese. Reese thought about trying to get Mondesi in a rundown. He hesitated, and threw to first, but first baseman Hal Morris, watching Mondesi, took his eye off the ball and it caromed off his glove, allowing Karros and Mondesi to score.

“Billy is definitely deserving of the opportunity,” said Fred Claire, Dodger executive vice president. “He’s made a lot of progress with some great at-bats in key situations. He has the ability to be a very productive hitter.”

Ashley’s opportunity to prove that he is worthy of staying in the lineup is expected to last until at least the next home stand. If he falters, the Dodgers will then decide whether they want to give the starting job to Karim Garcia of triple-A Albuquerque or platoon Ashley and left-handed hitter Wayne Kirby.

“I feel like I’ve got a lot of making up to do,” said Ashley, who is batting .179. “You’ve got take advantage of these opportunities. Now I’ve just got to do out and do it.”