Veteran Butler Hates Making Mistakes

Brett Butler was embarrassed and frustrated, and his mood summed up the Dodgers’ feelings about their fundamental mistakes in Friday night’s 5-3 loss to Cincinnati at Dodger Stadium.

The Dodgers suffered several mental lapses, including two by rookie Adam Riggs. Riggs was picked off first base in the fourth inning and called for interfering with the catcher after striking out in the sixth, leading to a double play.

But these weren’t all rookie mistakes.

Even Butler, a 15-year veteran, made a key blunder, killing a potential seventh-inning rally by popping into a double play on a bunt attempt.

That’s not the way to win a division race.

“This is still eating at me,” Butler said Saturday afternoon. “You should feel embarrassed and guilty if you don’t do your job and I am.

“We cannot do that, especially this late in the season. We have to execute the fundamentals of baseball or we’re not going to win. I know I’m one of the guys who did it, and I’m saying we just can’t.”

Likewise, Manager Bill Russell was discouraged to see those types of mistakes made at any time--but in August in particular.

“You go over it when it happens,” Russell said, “but [the players] all know what to do and that’s the first thing they say when you talk about it. You just have to hope that’s the last you see of that.”

*

Ramon Martinez will pitch in New York next week.

Pitching coach Dave Wallace confirmed that much after watching the Dodger ace right-hander, on the disabled list since June 15 because of a small tear in the rotator cuff on his throwing shoulder, throw in the bullpen Saturday.

“He threw very well,” Wallace said. “It looks like all systems are go right now.”

Martinez was pain free after throwing for about 15 minutes. How his shoulder responded Saturday was the last thing the Dodgers wanted to observe before allowing Martinez to return. The Dodgers play a three-game series with the Mets at Shea Stadium, beginning Tuesday.

However, Wallace would not say what day Martinez would pitch. Russell, after a closed-door meeting with his coaching staff and Vice President Fred Claire, said an announcement will be made today.

Tom Candiotti is expected to leave the rotation, although he has pitched well in Martinez’s absence. He is 6-2 with a 3.62 earned-run average in 11 replacement starts. Overall, Candiotti is 9-4 with a 3.35 ERA.

TONIGHT’s GAME

DODGERS’ HIDEO NOMO

(11-9, 4.05 ERA)

vs.

REDS’

BRETT TOMKO

(7-4, 3.54 ERA)

Dodger Stadium, 5 p.m.

Radio--KABC (790), KWKW (1330).

* Update--Nomo hasn’t been dominant lately, and the Dodgers could use one of his big-strikeout performances to help give them a spark before a three-city, 10-game trip. The right-hander has struggled in his last three starts, giving up 13 earned runs on 26 hits over 18 2/3 innings for a 6.27 earned-run average. However, Nomo is third in the National League with 177 strikeouts. He has reached the seventh inning in 14 of his 25 previous starts. Tomko has been impressive in his last three starts, going 2-1 with a 2.41 ERA.