tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13550650.post-1153506894412106812006-07-21T11:34:00.000-07:002006-07-21T11:34:54.416-07:0007/20/2006<br />CINCINNATI -- To gain the three pounds he lost from the illness he has battled the past few weeks, Pedro Martinez has put himself on a different sort of eating regimen.<br />"Lots of ice cream," Martinez said, laughing. "It's the Julio Franco diet."<br />The Mets right-hander has been battling sickness and right hip inflammation all month, but appears to be on the mend.<br />Martinez threw a 60-pitch bullpen session on Wednesday, his second since going to a Chicago hospital on Friday complaining of a high fever. His recovery schedule has been to rest two days between each bullpen session.<br />The right-hander reported being "a little sore" on Thursday.<br />"He was sharp," pitching coach Rick Peterson said of Martinez's performance. "He was Pedro."<br />Martinez is scheduled to throw 60-80 pitches in a simulated game on Saturday. If all goes well, he could start in Atlanta on July 28 or 29.<br />"Rick has a schedule," Martinez said. "[I'm] just sitting down and doing what I have to do."<br />Batting bits: Carlos Delgado is one Met who will be thankful to see the current seven-game road trip come to an end.<br />Entering Thursday's game, the Mets first baseman was batting just .190 (4-for-21) with two doubles and one RBI through the first six games.<br />However, Delgado did reach a milestone on Wednesday. His ground-rule double in the eighth inning was the 400th double of his career.<br />"Anytime you get a hit, you feel good, especially when you're not swinging the bat good," Delgado said. "Hopefully I can take that into [Thursday's] game."<br />As with many hitters mired in a slump, Delgado knows he just has to remain patient to regain his swing.<br />"[There's] too much movement, so I've got to slow everything down," Delgado said.<br />Lineup changes: Mets manager Willie Randolph used a similar lineup for the series finale on Thursday, with a few minor changes.<br />Endy Chavez started in right field in place of Xavier Nady, and Ramon Castro spelled Paul Lo Duca behind the plate. The two positions were flip-flopped in the order, Nady hit second, and Castro batted eighth.<br />Down on the farm: Leading, 2-1, entering the eighth, Triple-A Norfolk allowed four runs in the inning as it fell to Indianapolis, 5-2, on Wednesday night.<br />Jorge Padilla hit a solo home run in the first for Double-A Binghamton, but it would not be enough as the Mets fell to Trenton on Wednesday afternoon, 4-3.<br />Philip Humber recorded nine strikeouts over five shutout innings as Class A St. Lucie downed visiting Lakeland, 4-1, on Wednesday.<br />Class A Brooklyn mustered just three hits off of Oneonta starter Matt O'Brien, who struck out four over seven innings of shutout ball to down the Cyclones, 6-0.<br />On deck: The Mets will send Orlando Hernandez to the mound when they return home to start a three-game series on Friday against the Astros at Shea Stadium. Houston will counter with right-hander Taylor Buchholz. First pitch is set for 7:10 p.m. ET.<br /><br />Source: http://newyork.mets.mlb.com/Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13587134747234821796noreply@blogger.com