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Martinez looks to help Mets stay hot vs. Rockies

Jul 12, 2008 - 10:06 AM Colorado (39-55) at Ny Mets (49-44) 3:55 pm.

FLUSHING, New York (Ticker) -- Pedro Martinez aims to build off his best outing of the season on Saturday when the New York Mets shoot for their eighth straight victory in the middle game of a series with the Colorado Rockies.

The 36-year-old Martinez (3-2, 6.86 ERA) had many questioning what he had left after he posting an 0-2 mark with a 10.20 ERA in three starts.

Martinez rebounded on Monday, limiting the Philadelphia Phillies to two runs and five hits in 5 1/3 innings of a 10-9 victory. The three-time Cy Young Award winner labored, throwing 105 pitches, but built hope.

"I just decided to leave it all out there and keep everything in my head, make it go away and for those two hours -- whatever happens, happens," Martinez said.

A lot of good things have been happening for Martinez's team lately.

Oliver Perez threw six-plus solid innings and Damion Easley snapped a tie with an eighth -inning home run as the Mets posted a 2-1 victory on Friday. The combination of excellent pitching and timely hitting has New York on its longest winning streak since a seven-game run from August 17-24, 2006. The Mets have not won eight straight since June 7-15, 2006.

New York will look to stay hot against Ubaldo Jimenez (4-8, 4.21), who is coming off his first road win of the season. The 24-year-old righthander allowed three hits in seven innings of a 4-3 win over Milwaukee on Monday, but is 1-6 with a 5.98 ERA in 10 road starts.

The Rockies, who have lost 16 of 18 meetings at Shea, failed to take advantage of nine walks in the series opener.