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Mets hope Martinez can shake off rust vs. Cardinals

Jul 2, 2008 - 12:54 PM Ny Mets (41-42) at St. Louis (48-37) 8:15 pm. EDT

ST. LOUIS (Ticker) -- Pedro Martinez hopes to rebound from a pair of rough outings Wednesday as the New York Mets continue a four-game series with the St. Louis Cardinals.

The 36-year-old Martinez, who missed two months with a strained left hamstring, says he is healthy. However,

he has struggled since returning from the disabled list.

Martinez (2-2, 7.12 ERA) has allowed 10 runs and 12 hits over his last two starts, and is 2-2 with a 6.66 ERA since returning to the rotation on June 3. The three-time Cy Young Award winner was disheartened by his last start in which he allowed six runs and nine hits in 5 2/3 innings of a 9-0 loss to the Yankees on Friday.

"I'm just not doing my job, and that's something to worry about," Martinez said. "It's time for me for getting better, not getting worse. I've got to make some adjustments.The health is there. It's not physically, it's got to be mechanically."

New York has won nine of its last 12 games. David Wright homered and Ramon Castro drove in three runs in a 7-4 victory on Tuesday.

The Mets will try and stay hot against Joel Pineiro (2-4, 4.33), who is coming off a terrible outing. The righthander was rocked for seven runs and 10 hits in 7 2/3 innings of a 7-2 loss to Kansas City on Friday. Pineiro is 0-2 with a 4.63 ERA in his last eight starts.