NewsPedro, Moyer combine to stifle D-backs
After rain delay, lefty tosses six scoreless innings in relief
By Todd Zolecki / MLB.com
08/19/09 12:20 AM ET
PHILADELPHIA -- Pedro Martinez thought about his night Tuesday at Citizens Bank Park and still smiled.He hoped to take another step forward after pitching five innings Wednesday in his season debut against the Cubs. He appeared on his way, too. He retired the final eight D-backs he faced before a hard rain fell and his night ended after just three innings.
Frustrated?
No, he said. Had a blast.
"You never know what you'll get when you put two old goats out there," Martinez said following a 5-1 victory over the D-backs. "It's a scary combination. You're not going to see that very often. You might as well enjoy it. I enjoyed it.
"See? See what you get? Two for the price of one."
Martinez was referring to himself and left-hander Jamie Moyer. Martinez, 37, allowed two hits and one run and struck out three in three innings before a 66-minute rain delay ended his start prematurely. Moyer, 46, allowed two hits and struck out five in six scoreless innings to pick up his first win as a relief pitcher since May 15, 1996, when he pitched for the Red Sox.
But last night was more than just two old goats on the mound. Martinez took Moyer's job in the rotation. Moyer has not been happy about that, but he said he did not pitch with a chip on his shoulder.
"No, I pitched to get to the end of the game to save the bullpen," he said.
The Phillies signed Martinez to a prorated $2 million contract in July because they felt they needed to upgrade the fifth spot in their rotation. Brett Myers had surgery on his right hip in June, and the Phillies had used rookie Antonio Bastardo and veteran Rodrigo Lopez to take his place.
Bastardo got hurt. Lopez pitched well, but the Phillies weren't convinced he could be a long-term solution.
So they got Martinez. As soon as Martinez was ready, he would take Lopez's spot in the rotation. But then the Phillies acquired left-hander Cliff Lee in a trade with the Indians on July 29. Suddenly, the Phillies had six starters for five spots. Somebody had to go, and it certainly would not be Lee, Cole Hamels or Joe Blanton. That meant Moyer or rookie J.A. Happ. But Happ had pitched so well -- he is a front-runner for National League Rookie of the Year honors -- the Phillies could not take him out.
| "You never know what you'll get when you put two old goats out there. It's a scary combination. You're not going to see that very often. You might as well enjoy it. I enjoyed it. See? See what you get? Two for the price of one." |
| -- Pedro Martinez |
That left Moyer.
The Phillies told Moyer of the move Aug. 10. They arrived at Wrigley Field on Aug. 11, when he called reporters into the stands to express his displeasure.
"I feel a little disheartened," Moyer said. "I feel a little bit like I've been misled ... when I was negotiating with the Phillies this was a sore thumb, if you will, about this potentially happening. You can't promise anything in this game, but I really felt [general manager] Ruben [Amaro Jr.] parlayed to me that this type of situation would not happen. Actually, I even had some discussion with [team president] David [Montgomery] with them reassuring me that this type of situation wouldn't happen."
It happened because Moyer had a 5.47 ERA, the highest in the NL among starters. It happened because they believed Martinez could be better, and that he deserved a shot.
Martinez threw well in his Phillies debut at Wrigley. He allowed seven hits and three runs in five innings, but it was his first time facing Major Leaguers in more than 10 months.
He allowed a leadoff homer to Stephen Drew in the first inning Tuesday to give Arizona a 1-0 lead. Ryan Roberts followed with a single, but he was perfect after that.
"I think it would have gone very well because I was feeling really, really good and on top of my game," Martinez said.
Enter Moyer, who has made his first relief appearance since June 24, 2004.
"I didn't know what to expect," Moyer said. "Just go out and pitch. Try to pitch the way I'm capable of pitching and rely on my defense. It was a little different coming into the game from the bullpen. I haven't done this in a long time."
Moyer allowed a single to Roberts to lead off the fourth. He retired 11 consecutive batters until Miguel Montero singled with two outs in the seventh. Moyer retired the final seven batters he faced.
"He's been doing it for 20 years," Arizona third baseman Mark Reynolds said. "He's good."
Martinez was jovial after the game. Moyer seemed dour. He still seems unhappy about the demotion to the bullpen, although he declined to talk about it.
"I'd rather just talk about the game," he said.
Martinez praised his teammate.
"I've seen Jamie forever," Martinez said. "When I remember him and [Tom] Glavine. My idols. And Tim Wakefield. They're warriors out there. How they do it? Only lefties will know. And knuckleballers. It's great to watch, and I'm really happy for the results. We got a win.
"Jamie is a professional. He'll handle the same way I'll probably handle it. Whatever it takes for the team to win. If it was me in the same situation, I would do it the same way, too. I never said I wouldn't go to the bullpen. I'm an employee here, and so is Jamie. And Jamie is a professional."
Martinez and Moyer got help from Jayson Werth and Carlos Ruiz, who each had solo homers and two RBIs.
Todd Zolecki is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
