SAN DIEGO (AP) — Carlos Martinez was having no problem hitting 98 and 99 mph with his fastball in the eighth and ninth innings.
It was a message, all right.
"I think he was trying to show us he was still OK," manager Mike Matheny said after Martinez threw a three-hitter and struck out 10 to lead the St. Louis Cardinals to a 2-0 victory Monday over the San Diego Padres.
"He did it in the eighth, too. That was for me, I think, just to show me he wasn't tired," Matheny said. "Believe me, I was cheering him on.