The 37-year-old righthander was not efficient or dominant, and appeared spent by the fifth (an inning also memorable for a fan's attempt to distract Shane Victorino during a fly out by throwing a drink in the outfielder's face, an event Victorino did not wish to discuss after the game).
But copious run support helped make questions of durability less worrisome for one night. An offense that managed just three hits in 12 innings the previous night seemed to shake an extended downturn, as each member of the starting lineup had at least one hit.
"They can always count on the old goat to go stand up," Martinez said.
Manager Charlie Manuel said he saw a stronger Martinez than the one who was 5-6 with a 5.61 earned run average for the New York Mets last season.
"He had better stuff" last night, Manuel said. "His change-up was better than last year and his breaking ball definitely [had a] tighter rotation."
Martinez began his Phillies career with a lead after the Phils accomplished something in the bottom of the first that had mostly eluded them for weeks: The middle of the lineup mounted a rally. Triples by Victorino and Ryan Howard bookended a Chase Utley double to give the Phils a 2-0 lead.
The Phillies essentially sealed the game in the fourth, sending up 13 batters and scoring eight runs. The assault was highlighted by three-run homers by Jimmy Rollins and Raul Ibanez, and left the Phils with a 12-1 lead.
Martinez's first pitch was an 87-m.p.h. cutter, a strike to Ryan Theriot, who popped up to Howard at first. (In subsequent innings, he pushed his fastball to 92 m.p.h.) Two batters later, Martinez passed his first minor stress test, striking out Jake Fox to end the inning and strand Derrek Lee, who had reached on a two-out double.
The Cubs' first run came in the second, which Kosuke Fukudome began by doubling. He scored on Jeff Baker's one-out single, and Martinez ended the action there, retiring the bottom two hitters in the lineup.
Martinez tired in the fifth and allowed two runs, but also stranded two runners.
"Five innings and he was ready to be got," said Manuel, who added that 99 pitches in five innings was more than respectable for Martinez's fourth professional start of the year.
Proud to have returned to the majors, Martinez said he felt better than he had in the last eight years. "Early 2001 was the last time I could say, 'I just pitched today; tomorrow you want to play long toss?' "
The pitcher also said he felt mentally refreshed after spending last year grieving the June death of his father, Paulino. Martinez promised his father three days before his death that he would return to the game this season. "To be able to make it back like that . . . I promised my dad I would do it, and this was probably my best game."
Contact staff writer Andy Martino at 215-854-4874 or amartino@phillynews.com.
