Philadelphia 12, Cubs 5
It was an evening of ironies — some of them of the cruel variety — when Pedro Martinez beat the Cubs 12-5 on Wednesday night at Wrigley Field.
Martinez was starting his 401st major-league game and the Cubs’ Jeff Samardzija his first — but both were trying to prove they were worthy of staying, Martinez because he hasn’t pitched since last Sept. 25.
Only one of them did.
Then there was the Phillies starter Martinez has replaced, former Cub Jamie Moyer, who has voiced his displeasure at his demotion to bullpen duty in favor of Martinez.
And, of course, there are the playoff implications for the Phillies and Cubs, who both made the postseason last year with one winning the World Series. The trip to the championship apparently will pass through Philadelphia again.
Anyhow, the 37-year-old three-time Cy Young winner showed glimpses of his former self Wednesday, although he worked with a 2-0 lead after one inning, which went 4-1 after three innings and 12-1 after four.
He hit 94 mph on the Wrigley Field radar gun during his very long five innings of work in which he allowed seven hits, one walk and three runs, although two of them came as he obviously tired in the fifth. He threw 99 pitches, 64 for strikes.
He also threw with his old flair in front of a national TV audience on ESPN.
“I think he likes the stage,” Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said. “The bigger the stage, I think he likes it.”
