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Giants-Astros Preview

Aug 5, 2009 - 5:17 AM By MATT BECKER STATS Senior Writer

San Francisco (58-48) at Houston (53-53), 2:05 p.m. EDT

Joe Martinez can't remember the last time he took the mound for the San Francisco Giants.

His teammates likely don't want to remember.

Martinez, who hasn't pitched in the majors since being hit in the head by a line drive the first week of the season, is set to return to the Giants on Wednesday night when they conclude a three-game series against the Houston Astros.

Martinez (1-0, 6.75 ERA) made his major league debut on opening day and earned the victory for San Francisco (59-48) by throwing two innings of relief. Two days later on April 9, the right-hander needed help from team trainers to leave the field following a frightening incident.

After retiring the first two batters in the ninth inning of a 7-1 win over Milwaukee, Martinez was struck near the right temple by Mike Cameron's liner. The ball caromed into foul territory near the Brewers' first-base dugout as Martinez dropped to his knees.

Martinez left with a concussion and three small fractures on the right side of his face. He was placed on the disabled list and spent a week in the hospital, where he experienced internal bleeding and swelling around his right eye.

After being released from the hospital, Martinez returned to the Giants' clubhouse and even after seeing the replay "three or four times" he still didn't have a full recollection of everything that happened.

"It didn't even feel like it hit me, which is, I guess, lucky," Martinez told the Giants' official Web site. "It didn't really dawn on me what happened until I realized I was bleeding and I saw some of the training staff running out telling me to kind of take a seat."

Martinez took a month off physical activities but has worked his way back. He went 0-1 with a 2.93 ERA in five starts for Triple-A Fresno, striking out 16 in 27 2-3 innings.

"He made the club out of spring training and has been throwing the ball well down (in Fresno)," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. "He didn't go on the DL because of his arm, and he's back to throwing the ball the way he was when he made our club."

The Giants are coming off Tuesday's 8-1 win over Houston (53-54), their ninth victory in 13 games to remain one-half game back of wild card-leading Colorado.

Freddy Sanchez and Pablo Sandoval hit back-to-back home runs for San Francisco, which finished with 16 hits.

Sandoval, who has 17 homers, is 9 for 15 (.600) with two home runs and six RBIs in four games against Houston this season.

Sanchez, meanwhile, hit his first homer with his new team after being acquired from Pittsburgh last Wednesday.

"The team we've got now, it's going to help us score runs," said Bengie Molina, who drove in two runs Tuesday. "I think we're going to be fine."

Sanchez is 11 for 19 (.579) with five doubles versus Brian Moehler (7-6, 4.99), who makes his first start against the Giants in 2009. The right-hander faced them twice last year, allowing seven runs in 10 1-3 innings without a decision.

Moehler didn't get a decision against St. Louis on Friday, giving up two runs in 6 2-3 innings of a 4-3 loss.

The Astros offense is in a bit of a funk, plating three runs or fewer in nine of 11 games, and slugger Lance Berkman (strained left calf) is not expected to rejoin the club Friday even though he's eligible to come off the DL.