GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: NL: NY METS (76-60) at CINCINNATI (62-75)

NL: NY METS (76-60) at CINCINNATI (62-75)

<h3>Martinez makes much-anticipated return as Mets face Reds</h3>

<div class="pre">NY Mets (76-60) at Cincinnati (62-75) 1:15 pm EDT</div>

CINCINNATI (Ticker) - Pedro Martinez missed the New York Mets'playoff run last season. On Monday, he takes the mound just intime to be a key member of the next.


Martinez takes the mound for the first time in 11 months whenthe Mets open a three-game series at the Cincinnati Reds.

Due to offseason shoulder surgery, Martinez (NR) has not pitchedsince last September 27. Without him, New York had adisappointing postseason, losing to the St. Louis Cardinals inGame Seven of the National League Championship Series.

After four rehab starts in which he got significantly better ashe went along, the righthander will hope to boost New York's runto the National League East Division crown and a better showingin the playoffs.


The Mets (75-60) recorded a three-game sweep of the AtlantaBraves over the weekend and now hold a four-game lead over thePhiladelphia Phillies (72-64) in the NL East. Tom Glavine threwsix effective innings and David Wright hit a go-ahead, two-runhomer in a 3-2 win on Sunday.


Martinez, who posted a 15.43 ERA over his last four starts of2006 before undergoing the knife on October 5, will be on a75-pitch limit.


Normal recovery time for this type of surgery is at least ayear, but Martinez felt good after his bullpen session on Fridayand was given medical clearance.


"Nobody has been able to climb that big mountain," Martinez toldthe team's web site. "I'm happy to give it a try."

Martinez faces a tough opponent in Aaron Harang (14-3, 3.51),who is coming off of a two-hit shutout in an 8-0 win over thePittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday. The righthander is unbeaten inhis last five starts, and will try and help the Reds snap athree-game skid.

 

NL: NY METS at CINCINNATI

<div class="pre">NY METS AT CINCINNATI -- LINEUPS

NY METS CINCINNATI
AVG HR RBI AVG HR RBI
Jose Reyes SS .295 10 49 Josh Hamilton CF .280 18 43
Luis Castillo 2B .271 1 10 Alex Gonzalez SS .272 16 53
David Wright 3B .317 25 89 Ken Griffey Jr RF .285 29 86
Carlos Beltran CF .279 26 86 Brandon Phillips 2B .286 26 80
Carlos Delgado 1B .251 21 79 Adam Dunn LF .266 36 93
Moises Alou LF .316 9 31 Javier Valentin C .284 2 30
Shawn Green RF .274 8 38 Scott Hatteberg 1B .311 10 47
Paul Lo Duca C .267 5 33 Edwin Encarnacion 3B .280 11 58
Pedro Martinez RHP .000 0 0 Aaron Harang RHP .117 0 2
(NO RECORD) (14-3, 3.51)</div>

 

NL: NY METS at CINCINNATI

<div class="pre">NL AT CINCINNATI
WARMUPS: NYM - PEDRO MARTINEZ (NO RECORD)
CIN - AARON HARANG (14-3, 3.51)

UMPIRES: HP - SAM HOLBROOK
1B - RANDY MARSH
2B - BOB DAVIDSON
3B - HUNTER WENDELSTEDT

WEATHER: 90 Degrees, sunny
WIND: 8 mph, left to right</div>

 

NL: NY METS at CINCINNATI

<div class="pre">NL AT CINCINNATI
STARTING BATS: NYM - PEDRO MARTINEZ AND PAUL LO DUCA
CIN - AARON HARANG AND JAVIER VALENTIN

DUE UP FOR NY METS: J REYES (.295, 10 HR, 49 RBI)
L CASTILLO (.271, 1 HR, 10 RBI)
D WRIGHT (.317, 25 HR, 89 RBI)</div>

 

NL: NY METS at CINCINNATI

<div class="pre">NL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
NY METS 0 0 2 0
CINCINNATI 0 0 0 (BOT 1)

CURRENT PITCHERS: NYM - PEDRO MARTINEZ
CIN - AARON HARANG

DUE UP FOR CINCINNATI: J HAMILTON (.280, 18 HR, 43 RBI)
A GONZALEZ (.272, 16 HR, 53 RBI)
K GRIFFEY JR (.285, 29 HR, 86 RBI)</div>

 

NL: NY METS at CINCINNATI

<div class="pre">NY METS (0) VS CINCINNATI (0) - MID 1ST - IN PROGRESS

NY METS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Reyes ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .295
L Castillo 2b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .278
D Wright 3b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .319
C Beltran cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .279
C Delgado 1b 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .250
M Alou lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .316
S Green rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .274
P Lo Duca c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .267
P Martinez p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000

Totals 5 0 2 0 0 2 4

BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - C Delgado 1. Team LOB - 2.



CINCINNATI ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Hamilton cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .280
A Gonzalez ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .272
K Griffey Jr rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .285
B Phillips 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .286
A Dunn lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .266
J Valentin c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .284
S Hatteberg 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .311
E Encarnacion 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .280
A Harang p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .117

Totals 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


----------------------------------------------------
NY METS - 0 -- 0
CINCINNATI - -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

NY METS ip h r er bb so hr era
P Martinez 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 ###

CINCINNATI ip h r er bb so hr era
A Harang 1 2 0 0 0 2 0 3.49

Pitches-strikes: A Harang 21-15. Ground balls-fly balls: A Harang 0-1.
Batters faced: A Harang 5.

UMPIRES: HP--Sam Holbrook. 1B--Randy Marsh. 2B--Bob Davidson. 3B--Hunter
Wendelstedt.

Weather: 88 degrees, sunny. Wind: 8 mph, left to right.</div>

 

NL: NY METS at CINCINNATI

<div class="pre">NL AT CINCINNATI
CONFIRMED STARTERS: NYM - PEDRO MARTINEZ
CIN - AARON HARANG</div>

 

NL: NY METS at CINCINNATI

<div class="pre">NL AT CINCINNATI - SCORING UPDATE
SACRIFICE FLY BY KEN GRIFFEY JR SCORED JOSH HAMILTON.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, A GONZALEZ ON THIRD, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: NY METS 0
CINCINNATI 1 BOTTOM, 1ST

DUE UP FOR CINCINNATI: B PHILLIPS (.286, 26 HR, 80 RBI)</div>

 

NL: NY METS at CINCINNATI

<div class="pre">NL AT CINCINNATI - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY BRANDON PHILLIPS SCORED ALEX GONZALEZ.
SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, B PHILLIPS ON FIRST, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: NY METS 0
CINCINNATI 2 BOTTOM, 1ST

DUE UP FOR CINCINNATI: A DUNN (.266, 36 HR, 93 RBI)</div>

 

NL: NY METS at CINCINNATI

<div class="pre">NL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
NY METS 0 0 2 0
CINCINNATI 2 2 3 0 (TOP 2)

CURRENT PITCHERS: NYM - PEDRO MARTINEZ
CIN - AARON HARANG

DUE UP FOR NY METS: M ALOU (.316, 9 HR, 31 RBI)
S GREEN (.274, 8 HR, 38 RBI)
P LO DUCA (.267, 5 HR, 33 RBI)</div>

 

NL: NY METS at CINCINNATI

<div class="pre">NY METS (0) VS CINCINNATI (2) - END 1ST - IN PROGRESS

NY METS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Reyes ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .295
L Castillo 2b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .278
D Wright 3b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .319
C Beltran cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .279
C Delgado 1b 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .250
M Alou lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .316
S Green rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .274
P Lo Duca c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .267
P Martinez p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000

Totals 5 0 2 0 0 2 4

BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - C Delgado 1. Team LOB - 2.



CINCINNATI ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Hamilton cf 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .282
A Gonzalez ss 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .274
K Griffey Jr rf 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 .285
B Phillips 2b 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .287
A Dunn lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .265
J Valentin c 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .283
S Hatteberg 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .311
E Encarnacion 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .280
A Harang p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .117

Totals 5 2 3 2 0 0 1

BATTING: 2B - A Gonzalez (25, P Martinez). SF - K Griffey Jr. RBI - K Griffey
Jr (87), B Phillips (81). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - J Valentin
1. Team LOB - 1.

BASERUNNING: SB - B Phillips (26, 2nd base off P Martinez/P Lo Duca).


----------------------------------------------------
NY METS - 0 -- 0
CINCINNATI - 2 -- 2
----------------------------------------------------

NY METS ip h r er bb so hr era
P Martinez 1 3 2 2 0 0 0 18.00

CINCINNATI ip h r er bb so hr era
A Harang 1 2 0 0 0 2 0 3.49

Pitches-strikes: P Martinez 16-12; A Harang 21-15. Ground balls-fly balls: P
Martinez 1-2; A Harang 0-1. Batters faced: P Martinez 6; A Harang 5.

UMPIRES: HP--Sam Holbrook. 1B--Randy Marsh. 2B--Bob Davidson. 3B--Hunter
Wendelstedt.

Weather: 88 degrees, sunny. Wind: 8 mph, left to right.</div>

 

NL: NY METS at CINCINNATI

<div class="pre">NL AT CINCINNATI - SCORING UPDATE
SOLO HOME RUN BY MOISES ALOU (10) TO LEFT WITH 0 OUT IN THE
2ND OFF AARON HARANG.
CURRENT SCORE: NY METS 1, CINCINNATI 2

DUE UP FOR NY METS: S GREEN (.274, 8 HR, 38 RBI)</div>

 

NL: NY METS at CINCINNATI

<div class="pre">NL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
NY METS 0 1 1 3 0
CINCINNATI 2 2 3 0 (BOT 2)

CURRENT PITCHERS: NYM - PEDRO MARTINEZ
CIN - AARON HARANG

DUE UP FOR CINCINNATI: S HATTEBERG (.311, 10 HR, 47 RBI)
E ENCARNACION (.280, 11 HR, 58 RBI)
A HARANG (.117, 0 HR, 2 RBI)</div>

 

NL: NY METS at CINCINNATI

<div class="pre">NY METS (1) VS CINCINNATI (2) - MID 2ND - IN PROGRESS

NY METS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Reyes ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .295
L Castillo 2b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .278
D Wright 3b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .319
C Beltran cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .279
C Delgado 1b 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .250
M Alou lf 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .319
S Green rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .273
P Lo Duca c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .266
P Martinez p 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .000

Totals 9 1 3 1 0 3 4

BATTING: HR - M Alou (10, 2nd inning off A Harang 0 on, 0 Out). RBI - M Alou
(32). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - C Delgado 1. Team LOB - 2.


CINCINNATI ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Hamilton cf 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .282
A Gonzalez ss 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .274
K Griffey Jr rf 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 .285
B Phillips 2b 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .287
A Dunn lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .265
J Valentin c 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .283
S Hatteberg 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .311
E Encarnacion 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .280
A Harang p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .117

Totals 5 2 3 2 0 0 1

BATTING: 2B - A Gonzalez (25, P Martinez). SF - K Griffey Jr. RBI - K Griffey
Jr (87), B Phillips (81). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - J Valentin
1. Team LOB - 1.

BASERUNNING: SB - B Phillips (26, 2nd base off P Martinez/P Lo Duca).


----------------------------------------------------
NY METS - 01 -- 1
CINCINNATI - 2 -- 2
----------------------------------------------------

NY METS ip h r er bb so hr era
P Martinez 1 3 2 2 0 0 0 18.00

CINCINNATI ip h r er bb so hr era
A Harang 2 3 1 1 0 3 1 3.52

Pitches-strikes: P Martinez 16-12; A Harang 35-25. Ground balls-fly balls: P
Martinez 1-2; A Harang 0-3. Batters faced: P Martinez 6; A Harang 9.

UMPIRES: HP--Sam Holbrook. 1B--Randy Marsh. 2B--Bob Davidson. 3B--Hunter
Wendelstedt.

Weather: 88 degrees, sunny. Wind: 8 mph, left to right.</div>

 

NL: NY METS at CINCINNATI

<div class="pre">NL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
NY METS 0 1 1 3 0
CINCINNATI 2 0 2 3 0 (TOP 3)

CURRENT PITCHERS: NYM - PEDRO MARTINEZ
CIN - AARON HARANG

DUE UP FOR NY METS: J REYES (.295, 0-FOR-1)
L CASTILLO (.278, 1-FOR-1)
D WRIGHT (.319, 1-FOR-1)</div>

 

NL: NY METS at CINCINNATI

<div class="pre">NY METS (1) VS CINCINNATI (2) - END 2ND - IN PROGRESS

NY METS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Reyes ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .295
L Castillo 2b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .278
D Wright 3b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .319
C Beltran cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .279
C Delgado 1b 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .250
M Alou lf 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .319
S Green rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .273
P Lo Duca c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .266
P Martinez p 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .000

Totals 9 1 3 1 0 3 4

BATTING: HR - M Alou (10, 2nd inning off A Harang 0 on, 0 Out). RBI - M Alou
(32). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - C Delgado 1. Team LOB - 2.


CINCINNATI ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Hamilton cf 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .282
A Gonzalez ss 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .274
K Griffey Jr rf 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 .285
B Phillips 2b 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .287
A Dunn lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .265
J Valentin c 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .283
S Hatteberg 1b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .310
E Encarnacion 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .279
A Harang p 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .115

Totals 8 2 3 2 0 2 1

BATTING: 2B - A Gonzalez (25, P Martinez). SF - K Griffey Jr. RBI - K Griffey
Jr (87), B Phillips (81). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - J Valentin
1. Team LOB - 1.

BASERUNNING: SB - B Phillips (26, 2nd base off P Martinez/P Lo Duca).


----------------------------------------------------
NY METS - 01 -- 1
CINCINNATI - 20 -- 2
----------------------------------------------------

NY METS ip h r er bb so hr era
P Martinez 2 3 2 2 0 2 0 9.00

CINCINNATI ip h r er bb so hr era
A Harang 2 3 1 1 0 3 1 3.52

Pitches-strikes: P Martinez 29-22; A Harang 35-25. Ground balls-fly balls: P
Martinez 1-3; A Harang 0-3. Batters faced: P Martinez 9; A Harang 9.

UMPIRES: HP--Sam Holbrook. 1B--Randy Marsh. 2B--Bob Davidson. 3B--Hunter
Wendelstedt.

Weather: 88 degrees, sunny. Wind: 8 mph, left to right.</div>

 

NL: NY METS at CINCINNATI

<div class="pre">NL NY METS AT CINCINNATI
NOTE: THE STRIKEOUT BY CINCINNATI'S AARON HARANG IN THE
SECOND INNING WAS NEW YORK PITCHER PEDRO MARTINEZ'S 3,000TH OF HIS
MAJOR LEAGUE CAREER. HE BECOMES THE 15TH PITCHER TO REACH THIS
MILESTONE.</div>

 

NL: NY METS at CINCINNATI

<div class="pre">NL AT CINCINNATI - SCORING UPDATE
TWO-RUN HOME RUN BY DAVID WRIGHT (26) TO RIGHT WITH 1 OUT
IN THE 3RD OFF AARON HARANG SCORED LUIS CASTILLO.
CURRENT SCORE: NY METS 3, CINCINNATI 2

DUE UP FOR NY METS: C BELTRAN (.279, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

NL: NY METS at CINCINNATI

<div class="pre">NL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
NY METS 0 1 2 3 5 0
CINCINNATI 2 0 2 3 0 (BOT 3)

CURRENT PITCHERS: NYM - PEDRO MARTINEZ
CIN - AARON HARANG

DUE UP FOR CINCINNATI: J HAMILTON (.282, 1-FOR-1)
A GONZALEZ (.274, 1-FOR-1)
K GRIFFEY JR (.285, 0-FOR-0, SF, RBI)</div>

 

NL: NY METS at CINCINNATI

<div class="pre">NY METS (3) VS CINCINNATI (2) - MID 3RD - IN PROGRESS

NY METS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Reyes ss 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .294
L Castillo 2b 1 1 1 0 1 0 0 .278
D Wright 3b 2 1 2 2 0 0 0 .320
C Beltran cf 2 0 1 0 0 1 2 .280
C Delgado 1b 2 0 0 0 0 1 3 .249
M Alou lf 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .319
S Green rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .273
P Lo Duca c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .266
P Martinez p 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .000

Totals 13 3 5 3 1 3 5

BATTING: HR - M Alou (10, 2nd inning off A Harang 0 on, 0 Out), D Wright (26,
3rd inning off A Harang 1 on, 1 Out). RBI - M Alou (32), D Wright 2 (91).
Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - C Delgado 1. GIDP - C Delgado. Team
LOB - 2.


CINCINNATI ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Hamilton cf 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .282
A Gonzalez ss 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .274
K Griffey Jr rf 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 .285
B Phillips 2b 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .287
A Dunn lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .265
J Valentin c 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .283
S Hatteberg 1b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .310
E Encarnacion 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .279
A Harang p 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .115

Totals 8 2 3 2 0 2 1

BATTING: 2B - A Gonzalez (25, P Martinez). SF - K Griffey Jr. RBI - K Griffey
Jr (87), B Phillips (81). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - J Valentin
1. Team LOB - 1.

BASERUNNING: SB - B Phillips (26, 2nd base off P Martinez/P Lo Duca).

FIELDING: DP: 1 (S Hatteberg-A Gonzalez-A Harang).


----------------------------------------------------
NY METS - 012 -- 3
CINCINNATI - 20 -- 2
----------------------------------------------------

NY METS ip h r er bb so hr era
P Martinez 2 3 2 2 0 2 0 9.00

CINCINNATI ip h r er bb so hr era
A Harang 3 5 3 3 1 3 2 3.59

Pitches-strikes: P Martinez 29-22; A Harang 50-33. Ground balls-fly balls: P
Martinez 1-3; A Harang 2-4. Batters faced: P Martinez 9; A Harang 14.

UMPIRES: HP--Sam Holbrook. 1B--Randy Marsh. 2B--Bob Davidson. 3B--Hunter
Wendelstedt.

Weather: 88 degrees, sunny. Wind: 8 mph, left to right.</div>