Pedro Martinez's father Pablo died in the Dominican Republic yesterday, succumbing after a long battle with brain cancer. He was 79. After hearing the news, the pitcher left Shea Stadium to take a charter flight to be with his family. "We are really, really sorry for Pedro, it's a sad day for him," manager Jerry Manuel said. "He came up, I think it was the seventh inning. I didn't have the chance to embrace him or anything like that. It's a sad day for him, I'm sure. We've all at some point or another felt the sting of death close. Our prayers will be with him."
Martinez - who will miss tomorrow's scheduled start in the series opener against the St. Louis Cardinals - had flown back and forth to the Dominican this spring and summer to be with his ailing father, his latest trip was during the All-Star break. Continue
Comments