Pedro Martinez begins minor league rehab assignment in rainy conditions

Pedro’s minor league start cut short by rain

CLEARWATER, Fla. — Pedro Martinez’s first minor league rehab start in preparation for a comeback with the Philadelphia Phillies was cut short by rain Sunday.

The 37-year-old right-hander worked 1 1-3 innings for the Class A Clearwater Threshers before the Florida State League game against the St. Lucie Mets was stopped because of a downpour.

Martinez, who signed a $1 million, one-year contract this month after sitting out the first half of the season, hit a batter and allowed one hit during a 20-pitch first inning that was delayed more than 30 minutes by an early afternoon storm.

It was raining again by the time he took the mound for the second inning. After retiring the leadoff batter on a first-pitch fly ball, the three-time Cy Young Award winner threw three more pitches before play was stopped.

Martinez, who struck out Stefan Welch with a nifty changeup to end the first, threw 14 of his 24 pitches for strikes.

“It’s an inning and a third, you really can’t judge that,” Clearwater manager Ernie Whitt said. “He did throw one real good changeup to strike out the hitter. That’s the changeup that you’re used to seeing.

“I’m sure he was a little rusty, too. He hasn’t faced a hitter in a while in a live game situation. I think he’s going to be fine.”

The game was called after a 34-minute delay. Midway through the break, Martinez trotted up the left field line to the clubhouse at the Phillies’ spring training home, and Whitt later said the right-hander would throw another 50 or so pitches indoors in simulated game conditions.

“We got the call from Philly and they wanted him to go ahead and finish his pitches in the cage in a controlled situation,” the manager said.

Martinez, 214-99 with a 2.91 ERA in 467 career games for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Montreal Expos, Boston Red Sox and New York Mets, has not pitched in the majors since September. He was 5-6 with a 5.61 ERA in 20 starts for the Mets last season.

Fans lined the railing above the bullpen in left field to get a glimpse of the eight-time All-Star warming up.

Some of Clearwater’s pitchers were curious, too, getting an even closer look from along the fence inside in the bullpen.

Phillies prospect Dominic Brown started in right field and singled and scored a run in the first inning in support of Martinez, who led 2-0 when the game was stopped.

“Of course it’s disappointing when Pedro Martinez is on the mound, a future Hall of Famer most likely,” Brown said. “It’s great to be out there. It’s just humbling to be out there. I’m a little down right now because I wanted to finish the game.”