ALLENTOWN, Pa. — Pedro Martinez’s road back to the major leagues with the Phillies hit a speed bump on Friday night when he pitched for Triple-A Lehigh Valley at sold-out Coca-Cola Park.

Martinez allowed five runs — four earned — on three hits in five innings. He struck out four Columbus batters and walked three while throwing 84 pitches, 53 for strikes. He was the losing pitcher in the IronPigs’ 9-6 loss.
After allowing a leadoff home run on the second pitch of the game to Clippers centerfielder Michael Brantley, Martinez appeared to settle down, allowing no more hits through the first four innings.
Martinez seemed to tire in the fifth, allowing four runs while throwing 35 pitches. The key hit was a two-run triple by the No. 9 hitter, Niuman Romero.
Martinez, however, disputed the theory that he was tiring. “It wasn’t fatigue,” Martinez said. “Once I got back in full windup, I felt in full command. I hadn’t pitched very often in the stretch,” he said. “As far as stamina, I felt good and a lot better from the full windup.”
Martinez’s fastball hit 93 m.p.h., and he consistently threw in the 90s after the first inning. He said a few of his pitches remained works in progress. “My curveball is getting better, and I had a hard time throwing my cutter, and things were a little rough from the stretch position, but everything else was perfect,” he said.
Lehigh Valley manager Dave Huppert agreed. “The first four innings he was very sharp, and I thought his stuff was very crisp out of the windup, but when he got to the fifth in the stretch he didn’t look very comfortable,” Huppert said.
Martinez said he would perform in any role he was asked, but he made it clear he intended to start. “I definitely need more work, and to get to the point where you have command with pitches, you have to spend time on the mound — and the only way to do that is starting,” he said. “I’m not going to put any pressure on Ruben (Amaro Jr.) or Charlie (Manuel). When you are in the big leagues, you do what coaches tell you, but as far as I know, they brought me to start games with the Phillies.””He threw all of his pitches: fastball, cutter, slider, change-up, curveball,” Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said. “His mechanics were a little off from the stretch but overall, a good outing.” Amaro said Martinez would throw a bullpen session tomorrow in Lakewood.
In a bit of irony, Carlos Carrasco, one of the centerpieces in the trade to Cleveland for Cliff Lee, was Martinez’s opponent Friday night for the Clippers. Carrasco allowed four runs, all earned, in 51/3 innings. “It was special because when growing up Pedro Martinez was one of my heroes,” Carrasco said.