Pedro is Back and Still Awesome

by Sooze, Babes Love Baseball

In his long-anticipated season debut, Pedro Martinez became just the 15th pitcher in big league history to join the elite 3,000 Strikeout Club.

The veteran righty needed only 2 K's coming into today's game against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park, and got them both in the second.

Scott Hatteberg struck out on a foul tip to lead off the 1-2-3 inning and opposing pitcher Aaron Harang went down swinging to end it.

The 35-year-old Martinez, who underwent rotator cuff surgery last October, shaved a little off his fastball, with his first three pitches registering in the lower 80's. After giving up a pair of runs, he settled down and threw back-to-back peas to Javier Valentin that registered at 88-89mph.

Martinez finished with 76 pitches (one over his limit) over five good innings. He fanned four and surrendered 3 runs -- 2 earned -- on 5 hits, getting the win with four solid innings from the relief corps for a 10-4 victory.

Welcome back, Pedro!