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Phillies-Mets Preview

Aug 23, 2009 - 4:23 AM By NICOLINO DIBENEDETTO STATS Writer

Philadelphia (69-50) at New York (57-65), 1:10 p.m. EDT

Much to his dismay, Pedro Martinez never got a contract offer from the New York Mets after last season. Now he gets to show them what they're missing.

Martinez recently signed with their NL East rivals and he'll make his first appearance at Citi Field on Sunday as the first-place Philadelphia Phillies face the Mets.

Martinez (1-0, 4.50 ERA) spent four seasons with the Mets (57-66), but found himself on the disabled list four times with various injuries, including a torn rotator cuff that limited him to five games in 2007. Last year, the charismatic right-hander was plagued by a hamstring injury, finishing 5-6 with a 5.61 ERA in 20 starts.

In both of those seasons, New York suffered stunning September collapses to relinquish the division to the Phillies (70-50), who went on to win the World Series last fall.

Despite those disappointing results, the three-time Cy Young Award winner wanted to return to the Big Apple, so he pitched well for the Dominican Republic in March's World Baseball Classic only to be rebuffed by the Mets.

Instead, New York opted to keep Oliver Perez (3-3, 6.06) with a three-year, $36-million contract. Perez has been a disappointment and now he'll start opposite Martinez.

"I just hope that they understand that I was honest when I said I feel better, I feel more confident, I feel like my body is finally getting to the point where I can really help the Mets," Martinez said. "I don't know if they ever thought I was lying or something, because when I said it I meant it.

"I let go of some good offers, probably around spring training time, trying to wait for the Mets to do what they had to do and to try to come and negotiate with me. I never heard anything from them ..."

Martinez's wait lasted until July 15, when he inked a one-year, $2 million deal with Philadelphia.

"This team really surprised me," the eight-time All-Star said. "This team, as intense as they are on the field, doesn't reflect the kind of calm that they are in the clubhouse. When they come out there it seems like they know they're going to win. It's a great feeling."

Martinez's last outing was Tuesday, when he allowed one run in three innings before a 66-minute rain delay forced him out of the 5-1 win over Arizona. He was solid in his Phillies debut six days earlier, allowing three runs with five strikeouts in five innings of a 12-5 win at Chicago.

Martinez received a mix of boos and cheers when the large video board at Citi Field pictured him sitting in the dugout in his Phillies cap and uniform during Friday's 4-2 loss to New York.

Philadelphia rebounded Saturday, beating the Mets 4-1 to send them to their 15th loss in 23 games.

Perez, noted for his control problems, will try to build on his first win in six weeks after allowing four runs and two homers in five innings of a 9-4 victory over Atlanta on Tuesday. The left-hander had been 0-1 with a 3.74 ERA in his six previous outings after spending two months on the DL with a knee injury.

Perez is 2-3 with a 3.55 ERA in 13 starts against the Phillies, but struggled the only time he faced them this year as he allowed four runs, five hits and six walks in a 6-5, 10-inning defeat May 2.