The Only Run Is a Big One

Raul Mondesi hasn’t enjoyed the beginning of the season, and the Dodgers know what often happens when their star right fielder is upset.

“Mondy just keeps going until he makes something happen,” second baseman Eric Young said. “With Mondy, you know it’s coming sooner or later.”

Mondesi provided the spark Sunday, hitting a solo home run that helped the Dodgers end their season-opening, four-game losing streak with a 1-0 victory over the Cincinnati Reds.

“Our offense is going through one of those tough stretches right now, and we’ve been pressing to try to pick each other up,” catcher Mike Piazza said. “Mondy came through for us, and hopefully this will get us going now.”

Mondesi led off the top of the seventh inning with the homer to left-center against Red starter Mike Remlinger, his first homer and run batted in. He also had two singles, going three for four and raising his average from .125 to .250 (five for 20).

“I wasn’t hitting, but I know I’m going to hit in a lot of games,” he said. “Everybody is struggling, but we have a good offense. We’re going to hit and score runs.”

Mondesi bruised his left thigh in the ninth, running into a wall while trying to catch a foul ball. He said the bruise hurt, but the Dodgers’ first win eased his pain.

“We got the first one, and everything is better now,” he said. “Everybody just has to do their jobs, and we’re going to be OK.”

The Dodgers don’t want to make too much of it, but they said a closed-door meeting before Sunday’s game helped.

“It just helped us get on the same page,” Piazza said. “When you’ve been struggling like we have, it’s natural for guys to start going their own way a little. This helped us pull everyone back together, so it was a good thing.”

Pitching coach Glenn Gregson wasn’t surprised by Ramon Martinez’s performance against the Reds. Martinez gave up one hit in eight innings, and struck out seven with one walk.

“After the way he pitched in spring training, this was the Ramon I expected to see all along,” he said. “Obviously, though, his timing couldn’t have been better.”

Mike Devereaux also had a good day.

He started in left field, and went two for two with a double and two walks. Manager Bill Russell said Devereaux did what the Dodgers hope their reserves will do throughout the season.

“The main thing is that we won, and I’m definitely happy to contribute,” Devereaux said. “I can still help this team, I’m not done yet.”