Mets’ Martinez makes debut
NEW YORK — How will Fernando Martinez remember his first game as a major leaguer?
Will the 20-year-old Mets outfield prospect remember each at-bat in going 0 for 3 with an RBI, as he did in the Mets’ 6-1 victory over the Washington Nationals on Tuesday night?
Will he remember the 3 p. m. flight from Buffalo to La Guardia after he got the call in the morning? Walking into the Citi Field clubhouse 1 hour, 16 minutes before game time?
Will he remember striking out in his first at-bat? That he came up with the bases loaded in the next inning and beat out the back end of an attempted 3-6-1 double play for his first big league RBI? Misjudging a ball in right field? Getting a standing ovation for catching an easy one to end the same inning?
Will he remember that Livan Hernandez was brilliant for the Mets’ first complete game of the season, or that Gary Sheffield hit a line drive, three-run home run to left field in the seventh?
How about all of the above? “Today was unbelievable for me,” Martinez said. “I work for all my life for that moment. That’s my life.” The evening started with the announcement that
Jose Reyes and Ryan Church were headed to the disabled list with leg injuries and Carlos Beltran was going to be out until at least Friday with a bone bruise.
Martinez was summoned from Buffalo, home of the Mets’ Triple-A affiliate, and arrived at precisely 5:54 p. m.
“Fernando’s going to get an opportunity to play,” manager Jerry Manuel said. “. . . Once he gets that opportunity, he’ll determine the rest of the playing time.”
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