PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — The best way for Carlos Martinez to get a grip on his sinker and sharpen the pitch for use in the regular season might be the opposite of its intent.
He must throw it more to get outs on fewer pitches.
“When I work on my two-seamer, I like to face hitters,” Martinez said of the darting downward fastball. “They let me know how it’s going with my two-seamer. I don’t care if somebody can hit it, (because) that lets me know how it’s coming with my two-seamer for the season.”
For the second consecutive start, Martinez traveled to Clover Park to face the Mets in an exhibition game, and for the second consecutive time he featured his two-seam sinker in the first inning and tumbled into prolonged trouble.