PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (AP) -- Carlos Zambrano wasn't concerned with the results of his first start with the Miami Marlins.
The right-hander struck out four, but
gave up three runs and walked three in 1 1-3 innings of Miami's 5-4 win
over the New York Mets on Thursday.
"Just an outing to build the arm," said
Zambrano, who was traded by the Cubs to the Marlins for fellow starter
Chris Volstad in the offseason. "As spring training goes, it will be
much better. I gave up three runs, but it doesn't matter. It just
matters that I need to work on my arm, my strength and my conditioning
to be ready for the season."
Former Mets All-Star Jose Reyes was not with the Miami squad that faced New York for a second straight day.
Zambrano was making his first appearance
since Aug. 12, when he was ejected from a Cubs game against the Atlanta
Braves after giving up five home runs. After being tossed, Zambrano
cleaned out his locker and talked about retiring before being suspended
without pay.
The three-time All-Star went 125-81
with a 3.60 ERA in 11 turbulent seasons with the Cubs. Eager to move on
without him, the Cubs agreed to pay approximately $15.5 million of his
$18 million salary this season.
"I don't pay attention to that,"
Zambrano said. "I just pay attention to -- I'm on a new team, they love
me here and I want to be here."
Zambrano struck out the first two Mets
batters he faced Thursday, but struggled with his control after that.
Jason Bay was walked on four pitches. Ike Davis, despite falling behind
1-2 in the count, also walked. Zambrano got ahead 1-2 against backup
catcher Lucas May, but he hit a two-run double into the gap.
"I was working on all my pitches,"
Zambrano said. "In a normal situation, I would have pounded the strike
zone and just do what I have to do. I walked two guys, but I was working
on my pitches. The sinker was good today."
While Zambrano liked his sinker, Mets starter Mike Pelfrey did not.
Pelfrey allowed four runs and six hits
-- including a solo home run to Austin Kearns and a RBI single to Hanley
Ramirez - in 2 2-3 innings. Pelfrey walked one and did not have any
strikeouts.
"The biggest thing early, I didn't get
ahead," Pelfrey said. "It's kind of hard to pitch behind in the count.
The sinker today was moving, but (it was) almost going sideways instead
of down. I didn't think it was that good (of) a day and I had a hard
time controlling. I fell behind in a lot of counts. Obviously I didn't
make pitches.
"I know there's times where May wanted
the ball away and I missed way in. He wanted it in and I missed away, so
the command wasn't good," Pelfrey said.
NOTES:
Former Mets shortstop Jose Reyes, who signed with the Marlins in the
offseason, did not make the trip from Jupiter. . Michael Weiner, the
executive director of the Major League Baseball Players Association,
spoke with Mets players on Thursday morning. . Hall of Fame pitcher
Sandy Koufax was at Mets camp on Thursday morning. Koufax watched top
pitching prospect Zach Wheeler in a minor league intrasquad game and
also spoke with Mets relief pitcher Bobby Parnell about his delivery for
a few minutes. . Johan Santana threw a bullpen session Thursday and
said he felt no discomfort after throwing two innings Tuesday. Santana
is scheduled to pitch against the Marlins on Sunday. . Relief pitcher
Pedro Beato was diagnosed with rotator cuff inflammation and could start
a light throwing program Friday. . Center fielder Andres Torres has a
tight right glute and did not play Thursday. . Free agent pitcher C.J.
Nitkowski, who has not pitched in the major leagues since 2005, worked
out for the Mets on Thursday.
