Boston College Athletics
Martinez Gets Win In First MLB Start
August 06, 2009 | Baseball
Aug. 6, 2009
HOUSTON, Texas - Former Boston College pitcher Joe Martinez worked his way back to the Major Leagues after taking a comebacker to the head on April 9 and earned the win in San Francisco's 10-6 victory at Houston August 6.
Martinez worked 5.0 innings and allowed three runs on seven hits. The Astros' three runs all came in the second inning. He struck out four batters and did not walk any. He tossed 93 pitches in his first big league outing since the second day of the season and 62 of them were strikes.
The win gave the Giants a half-game lead over Colorado in the National League Wild Card standings.
Martinez, who pitched for BC from 2002-05, was struck in the head by a Mike Cameron line drive that fractured his skull and kept him in the hospital for a week. During his rehab stint, Martinez made eight starts in the minors. He started five games for the Triple-A Fresno Grizzlies and had a 2.93 ERA in 27.2 innings.
"I've pitched seven or eight outings since I got hit in the head, and it really doesn't occur to you," Martinez said on Tuesday about fearing another comebacker. "Just because you fall off a bike doesn't mean you don't get back on. It's pretty much the same thing."
Martinez is now 2-0 in the majors this season. He came on in relief on Opening Day and got the win against Milwaukee before taking the liner to the head in the second game two days later.
