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Phillies-Cubs Preview

Aug 12, 2009 - 5:37 AM By JEFF MEZYDLO STATS Senior Writer

Philadelphia (61-48) at Chicago (58-52), 8:05 p.m. EDT

The Philadelphia Phillies finally feel Pedro Martinez is ready to return to the majors.

The 37-year-old right-hander makes his Phillies debut and his first appearance in almost a year Wednesday night against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field.

The last time Martinez took the mound in the majors, he allowed five runs and struck out nine in six innings, but didn't receive a decision in a 7-6 win over the Cubs on Sept. 25, while with the New York Mets. After finishing 5-6 with a 5.61 ERA last season, the three-time Cy Young Award winner filed for free agency and went without a team until July 15, when the Phillies (62-48) signed him.

On the disabled list with a mild shoulder strain, Martinez will be activated Wednesday after going 1-1 with a 5.11 ERA in three minor league rehab starts.

"We just felt that Pedro is pitching well enough that he deserves a chance to pitch in the rotation, and we hope it's an upgrade," general manager Ruben Amaro Jr., told the Phillies' official Web site.

Martinez, who's 3-3 with a 4.71 ERA in eight starts against the Cubs, looks to help his new club to a second straight win. Philadelphia snapped a three-game losing streak with a 4-3, 12-inning victory over Chicago on Tuesday.

Ben Francisco hit the game-winning homer and Jimmy Rollins added a two-run shot for the NL East-leading Phillies, who won for the fourth time in 12 games and improved to 3-1 against the Cubs (58-53) this season.

Francisco, acquired from Cleveland on July 29 along with Cliff Lee, is batting .339 with six homers and 12 RBIs in his last 18 games overall.

"He's been hitting the ball really well ever since he got here," said Phillies closer Brad Lidge, who couldn't hold a 3-2 lead in the ninth and suffered his seventh blown save. "We got Cliff Lee but we got another really good player, too."

Rollins is hitting .325 with eight homers and 27 RBIs since snapping a career-worst 0-for-28 streak. Two of his four hits in 18 at-bats this season against Chicago have been home runs.

Jeff Baker had four hits and Milton Bradley added two with an RBI on Tuesday for the Cubs, who've lost five of six.

The rough stretch could be getting to manager Lou Piniella, who snapped at a reporter who brought up the recent struggles of relievers Kevin Gregg and Carlos Marmol.

"You want to manage and lose five out of six and see how you feel?" said Piniella, whose team has stranded 38 baserunners during its three-game losing streak.

Bradley has been a bright spot, going 11 for 23 in his last six games. He is 3 for 9 lifetime against Martinez.

The Cubs are expected to be without slugger Aramis Ramirez for the rest of the series. Ramirez hasn't played since leaving Saturday's game in Colorado with shoulder soreness. The third baseman, who missed two months earlier this season with a dislocated shoulder, could be back Friday against Pittsburgh.

After 42 career relief appearances - 16 this season - Jeff Samardzija (1-1, 6.29) will make his first start for Chicago in this contest.

The right-hander replaces ace Carlos Zambrano, currently on the disabled list with back spasms.

Samardzija is 1-1 with a 7.36 ERA in three career appearances against the Phillies. He allowed a game-winning three-run homer to Jayson Werth in Philadelphia's 4-1, 13-inning win over the Cubs on July 21.