Pedro Martinez and Yankees renew rivalry

by Eric Schwartz

Thursday October 29, 2009 

Pedro Martinez and Yankees renew rivalry thumbnail

When the Phillies signed pitcher Pedro Martinez late in the regular season it was with hopes hat he could provide them with a little bit more than Jamie Moyer was giving them.

Now, they are asking for more; A lot more.

Pedro will take the mound tonight at Yankees Stadium with the task of giving the Phillies a commanding 2-0 lead in the World Series.

Pedro’s best game against the Yankees came in September of 1999 when he pitched a complete-game one-hitter in a 3-1 Red Sox win. He struck out 17.

The Phillies can’t ask for that tonight can they?

Well, probably not, but given Pedro’s flair for the dramatic the Phillies can expect a solid performance that will keep them in the game.

The atmosphere will no doubt be intense tonight at Yankees Stadium. Last night you could hear a pin drop, but that was only because Cliff Lee was that good. Even if Pedro is on his game, the fans will be on him, surely bringing back the “Who’s your Daddy” chants.

The best thing for Martinez was what Lee gave him by pitching a gem last night – a sense of freeness on the mound. By winning Game 1, the Phillies shifted all of the pressure on the Yankees. Lose Game 2 ad the Yankees are finished.

That is the pressure quality, but erratic, Yankees starter A.J. Burnett faces. It is only Game 2 and it is already a must-win for the Bronx Bombers. This is Burnett’s first start in a World Series game and he has an entire team and city on his back.

 

Burnett against the Phillies: Between his time in Florida and interleague matchups while with Toronto Burnett has faced the Phillies quite a few times and the Phillies hitters have gotten the better of him. Burnett is 5-8 lifetime with a 4.85 ERA in 16 starts. One of those starts came on May 22, when he was shelled for five runs in six innings in a Phillies win.

Pedro vs. A-Rod: In 55 at-bats against Pedro A-Rod has just one home run. He also has 19 strikeouts.

Game time: 8:07, FOX

Filed Under Phillies

Comments

3 Responses to “Pedro Martinez and Yankees renew rivalry”

  1. Steve Cops on October 29th, 2009 2:59 pm

    A Rod sucks this year in thepost season, he doesnt matter, gotta watch Jeter

  2. Brandon on October 29th, 2009 11:55 pm

    While Lee threw the game of his life in Game 1, Game 2 proved that the Yankees still own Pedro. Nuf’ said.

  3. Doug on October 30th, 2009 8:28 am

    Just like a Yankee fan… not a word said after a near shutout by Lee but talking after they squeaked out a win.

    Only scoring 3 runs really isn’t ‘owning’ a pitcher when his career post season ERA is 3.22.

    Now ARod and Jeter, gotta love those numbers combined 6Ks… and what!! no RBIs hahahah.

Got something to say?