A Great Start to the Day

PITTSBURGH — Ramon Martinez won his first official start in more than two months and the Dodgers, roughing up Jason Schmidt for eight runs in 4 1/3 innings, beat Pittsburgh, 8-2, Monday in the first game of a doubleheader.

Los Angeles, which Sunday regained sole possession of the NL West lead for the first time since April 13, has won five in a row and nine of 12.

Eric Karros had a two-run single as seven of the Dodgers’ first eight batters reached in a four-run third inning. Raul Mondesi added his 26th homer, a two-run shot, in a three-run fifth inning that chased Schmidt (8-7), who hadn’t lost in six starts since July 20.

The Pirates had won three in a row and six of seven to close within three games of Houston in the NL Central, but are only 1-7 against the Dodgers this season. Los Angeles, which has outscored Pittsburgh, 48-20, is the only NL division leader with a winning record against the Pirates.

With Francisco Cordova on the disabled list and the Pirates needing another starter because of the doubleheader, Manager Gene Lamont probably stayed with Schmidt a little longer than usual to keep from overworking his bullpen.

Pittsburgh took a 2-1 lead on Turner Ward’s RBI double in the second, but let Martinez (7-3) off the hook by stranding two runners in each of the first two innings.

Schmidt, whose earned-run average climbed from 4.24 to 4.59, then fell behind, 5-2, before getting the second out of the third inning. Martinez and Brett Butler singled, Mike Piazza walked and Karros lined his two-run single into left field. Todd Zeile added a run-scoring single, and Karros scored when Gagne’s apparent line-drive single to right turned into a force play as Zeile held up, thinking the ball would be caught.

Martinez, who went on the disabled list retroactive to June 15 with a slight tear in his right rotator cuff, gave up two runs--one earned--and struck out five over five innings. Mark Guthrie finished up with four hitless relief innings, retiring all 12 batters he faced.