Pedro Martinez got the nod to start for the Philadelphia Phillies in Game 3 against the Colorado Rockies on Saturday. (Matt Slocum/Associated Press)Pedro Martinez is getting the ball and the call in another big game.
Philadelphia manager Charlie Manuel chose the aging right-hander over J.A. Happ and Joe Blanton, who made cameo appearances out of the bullpen Thursday, to face the Colorado Rockies in Game 3 of their National League playoff series Saturday night.
The best-of-five series is tied at one game each.
Martinez is 6-2 with a 3.40 earned-run average in the post-season, and Manuel said he likes his history in cold weather, too. The forecast for Game 3 calls for below-freezing temperatures and flurries.
The 37-year-old Martinez sat out most of the year before signing with the Phillies as a free agent late in the season. He went 5-1 with a 3.63 ERA in nine starts.
From a man without a team in July to the playoffs again, this start is something special to Martinez.
"Well, every game is really special, but this one makes me look really smart," Martinez cracked. "Because I chose this team after waiting a long time. I gave away opportunities to make a lot more money. … But I waited for the right moment, the right team and I don't think I could have chose a better team than this one to actually get my opportunity to pitch in the post-season."
Blanton pitched one inning in relief Thursday, allowing a run in Colorado's 5-4 win, and Happ got knocked out of the game when Seth Smith hit a hard liner off the lower part of his left leg. X-rays were negative.
Manuel hinted that Happ would be unavailable out of the bullpen Saturday night, an indication he could get the start Sunday. Then again, it could be Blanton or even Game 1 starter Cliff Lee on three days' rest.
Martinez has only thrown seven innings since Sept. 13 and he hasn't taken the mound since a no-decision against Houston on Sept. 30.
"That's another wonder," Martinez said when asked how he thinks 10 days' rest will affect him. "We don't really know. But I feel really good physically. I'm looking forward to going out there, hopefully get a normal start, use my experience to my advantage and try not to waste too much energy and too many pitches."
Martinez's age, minimal work the last few weeks, and the chilly temperatures expected at Coors Field were thought to be determinants to Martinez getting the nod.
Manuel didn't hesitate to pick him to start the team's most important game of the season.
"I say he's going to throw anywhere from 85 to 100 pitches," Manuel said. "And I think that can get you into the sixth or seventh inning if his command is good."
Jason Giambi has faced Martinez plenty of times, and he was busy doling out advice Friday to the young hitters in the Rockies' clubhouse who hadn't faced him before.
"I faced him when he was in his heyday. There was nobody better in baseball at that time. He had a fastball, change-up, breaking ball, could locate it at all times. Back then it was fun to go to the ballpark and try to hit him because he had such a great game plan on pitching to guys and it was a tough at-bat, Giambi said.
"But these young guys, I'm just going to tell them, 'He's going to make you work. He's a competitor. He loves to win.' I always faced him before he had his arm worked on and he was throwing 86, but he was still out there competing, making it work."
Martinez isn't concerned about the weather.
"I'm planning to go out and have fun and do whatever I have to do. I have never been in a situation where I have to pitch with the snow on the field or anything like that. But I'm just looking forward to the challenge and see what else I have to defeat."
