Pedro Pitches, Columbus Clips 'Pigs
9-6 In Finale |
| Carrasco Beats Former 'Mates In Columbus Debut |
| BOX SCORE |
| Pedro Martinez is a competitor, a leader, and someone who is willing to give his all for his team -- and although the results were not what he may have hoped for on Friday evening, it was a positve step forward. |
| "I know I'm not too far away from what I really want to achieve", said Martinez in front of a packed room of reporters during a press conference held after the three-time Cy Young Award winner's performance on Friday evening at Coca-Cola Park. |
| Martinez was sharp over his first four innings, before a four-run fifth inning did him in, but former IronPigs' starter Carlos Carrasco tossed five and 1/3 effective innings and the Columbus Clippers beat the Lehigh Valley IronPigs 9-6 in the finale of their four-game set in front of a sold-out capacity crowd of 10,000 fans at Coca-Cola Park on Friday evening. |
| Martinez (0-1, 7.20) allowed a home run to Michael Brantley on the second pitch of the game, but settled in over the next three innings and was helped out early by his offense, which put up two runs in the bottom of the fourth inning against former teammate Carlos Carrasco. |
| Carrasco (7-9, 5.25), made his first start against his former team and notched his first win as a member of the Clippers. Carrasco, a native of Venezuela, was solid over his first three innings of work, but ran into a bit of trouble in the bottom of the fourth frame. David Newhan drew a leadoff walk for Lehigh Valley, swiped second base, and put the tying run in scoring position with nobody out in the frame. Three batters later, Michael Taylor stepped to the plate and launched a two-run go-ahead home run over the center field fence to give Lehigh Valley and Martinez a 2-1 lead. The home run for Taylor, was his third as a member of the IronPigs. |
| In the top of the fifth frame, Martinez allowed four runs, three earned, on just two hits, which gave the Clippers a lead they would never relinquish. And, although Martinez struggled during his final frame, he exclaimed, "I felt really good, actually, in that last inning," he said. "There were a couple of fastballs there I was very pleased with." |
| The eight-time All-Star threw 84 pitches -- 53 for strikes, and despite the home run to Brantley to leadoff the game, and the four-run fifth inning, Martinez allowed just one hit over his first four innings, and looked sharp. |
| "I got better, and it showed that I got better as it got going," said Martinez. "Without a doubt, I'm going to have to pitch a little more to get to the consistent level I'm used to being." |
| While Martinez will now travel to Philadelphia and find out what his next step in his rehab will be, the Lehigh Valley IronPigs will make the trek to Rochester, and will come off an exciting homestand against the Clippers, which saw three players traded to the opposing dugout, two appearances from a three-time Cy Young Award winner, and two sold-out, capacity crowds of 10,000 fans. |
| On Saturday evening, the IronPigs will take on the Rochester Red Wings in the opening game of their four-game series. The 'Pigs will send LHP Brian Mazone (0-3, 5.03) to the mound. Rochester will send RHP Jeff Manship (3-1, 2.89) to the hill. |
| Matt Provence will have the call beginning at 6:35 p.m. for the AT&T pre-game show on the IronPigs Radio Network, ESPN Radio 1230-1320 AM. |
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