Pedro Martinez's start in Reading is sold out

Reading, PA – Wednesday’s 7:05 PM game vs. the Trenton Thunder is sold out.

Philadelphia Phillies RHP Pedro Martinez is expected to make a rehab start for the Reading Phillies. Martinez has been on the disabled list with a mild right shoulder strain since signing with the Phillies as a free agent on July 15.

This will be Martinez’s third rehab start. His first outing was shortened by rain at Clearwater (Hi-A) on July 26 (ND, 1.1 IP, H, HB, SO). On July 31 he pitched at Triple-A Lehigh Valley (L, 5.0 IP, 3 H, 5 R, 4 ER, HR, 3 BB, 4 SO). 

Martinez won the National League Cy Young Award in 1997 with Montreal. He won the award in 1999 and 2000 in the American League with Boston. He’s finished in the top four in Cy Young voting an additional four times. Martinez has been a Major League All-Star eight times: fives time in the NL with Montreal (96-97) and New York (05-06), and three times in the AL with Boston (99-00, 02). 

Martinez made his ML debut with the Dodgers as a 20-year old in 1992. In 17 big league seasons he’s pitched in 467 games and made 400 starts. He owns a 214-99 career record with a personal best 23 wins coming in 1999. He has a lifetime 2.91 ERA (901 ER in 2782.2 IP) with 2,173 H, 752 BB and 3,117 strikeouts. He’s led his league in ERA fives times, wins once, strikeouts three times and complete games once.

In 13 post-season games, all with Boston, Martinez is 6-2 with a 3.40 ERA (30 ER in 79.1 IP). 

Notes: 

Wednesday’s game could be the greatest thing since sliced bread
In addition to Martinez’s rehab start, the first 2,000 adults 15 and older will receive an R-Phils bread box. The first 2,000 adults will also receive a coupon for a free loaf as they enter the ballpark to be redeemed upon exit. The bread box and bread giveaway are both compliments of Stroehmann’s. Rock Hits Y102 will also host a pre-game tribute to sliced bread. 

Cy, meet Grammy
Martinez won’t be the only performer in the ballpark who has won a major award. Gates to the Classic Café open at 5:00 PM for live music by Grammy Award winning guitarist David Cullen. All other gates open at 6:00 PM. 

Playoff fever
With 33 regular season games to go, the Reading Phillies are currently in second place in the Eastern League Southern Division. The R-Phils are 7.0 games behind Akron and 2.0 games ahead of Erie. The top two clubs in each division make the playoffs. The R-Phils have not been in the playoffs since 2001. 

Tickets and additional promotional information for this game and all home games can be found here or by calling 610-375-8469. 

This story was posted on August 3 and updated August 4, 2009