|
Martinez injured in Mets loss to Marlins
2008-04-02
The Florida Marlins ground out a 5-4 victory in 10 innings against the Mets on Tuesday, New York's loss made even more painful by a hamstring injury to star pitcher Pedro Martinez in the fourth inning. The 36-year-old three-times Cy Young Award winner was forced to abandon his first start of the season with one out in the inning after straining his left hamstring. He was limping when he left Dolphin Stadium and told a television reporter he felt a pop in his leg. A few hours later, Robert Andino hit his first Major League home run to secure the Marlins victory and even the season-opening series at 1-1. However, Martinez's injury continued to cast a shadow over the game long after his departure. Coming back from major shoulder surgery that wiped out most of last season, Martinez allowed four runs in the first two innings before getting hurt throwing a pitch to Matt Treanor that was grounded slowly to third baseman David Wright. The Mets got the out but lost their pitcher. Martinez left the stadium and will fly back to New York on Wednesday for an MRI scan. "We can't let anything get us down," third baseman Wright said on the team's Web site. "We have a job to do here and we have some capable guys." Closer Billy Wagner added: "We've got to be resilient. We can't sit around. Resilience has got to be in our vocabulary as a baseball team. We're getting tested early and we have to rise to the occasion." Martinez made five starts at the end of last season after recovering from surgery and made it through spring training without a problem. He was following new and expensive acquisition Johan Santana in the rotation but that apparently will now have to change. On the field, the Mets rallied from a 4-0 deficit and tied the game in the fifth inning before the bullpens took over. New York reliever Matt Wise recorded the first two outs in the bottom of the 10th before Andino, in his first at-bat of the season and the 82nd of his career, crushed the winning home run. Dan Uggla hit a two-run homer off Martinez with nobody out in the first inning and Luis Gonzalez led off the second with a solo shot. Andino, a late addition to the Florida roster, entered the game at third base in the top of the 10th inning. "Robert, he just kind of joined us the last three days, the last guy to be added to the roster," Marlins manager Fredi Gonzalez said. "He's got to feel good." (Writing by Mike Shalin in Boston; Editing by John O'Brien)
Mets manager focused on winning, not speculation (2008-05-24)Santana pitches Mets to 7-4 victory over Yankees (2008-05-17)Martinez injured in Mets loss to Marlins (2008-04-02)Mets give Santana landmark contract (2008-02-02)Yankees offer Rivera $45M for 3 years (2007-11-14)
| 
