recorded nine of his first 12 outs by strikeout and worked six innings
for Double-A Reading on Wednesday night, in what could have been
his final rehab start before joining the Philadelphia Phillies.
In his best start since signing a
one-year deal on July 15, the 37-year-old Martinez allowed three runs
and five hits without walking a batter against the New York Yankees'
Trenton affiliate.
He finished with 11 strikeouts.
In that first four-inning span in
which he struck out nine, Martinez gave up two hits, including a home
run to shortstop Eduardo Nunez.
Overall he looked free and easy,
recording first-pitch strikes to 18 of the 23 batters he faced. He
threw 82 pitches — 60 strikes.
In three starts for Class A
Clearwater, Triple-A Lehigh Valley and Reading, Martinez has given up
seven earned runs and nine hits in 12 1/3 innings.
Martinez went 5-6 with a 5.61 ERA in
20 starts for the Mets last season. In March, he pitched for the
Dominican Republic team in the World Baseball Classic, working six
innings of scoreless relief in two games but went unsigned.
The Phillies immediately placed
Martinez on the disabled list due to a right shoulder strain after
signing him and has since traded for 2008 AL Cy Young Award winner
Cliff Lee. Adding Martinez, a three-time Cy Young winner, will force
Philadelphia to adjust a rotation that includes Lee, World Series MVP
Cole Hamels, Joe Blanton, J.A. Happ and Jamie Moyer. Though he began
the season in relief, Happ has been one of the Phillies most effective
starters this season.