Monday's game against the Cubs was no certainly picnic for Cardinals starter Carlos Martinez. The young right-hander, making his fifth start of the season, surrendered seven runs and nine hits in 3 2/3 innings. After the game, Martinez admitted to not being at his best from the start of the evening.
"In the beginning, I was anxious," Martinez said, speaking through a translator, per MLB.com. "Then the second, third inning, I tried to slow down a little bit and felt better. I need to be better the next time I pitch."
As it would turn out, Martinez gave up five runs in the top of the first inning and never looked to be comfortable on the mound.
"He was a little too amped up for the game," catcher Tony Cruz said. "He didn't get a couple calls [from home-plate umpire John Hirschbeck] that he thought [he should have]. But it happens. He's a young guy. He really wanted to go out there and show what he has."
Martinez will look to rebound in his next scheduled start, Saturday against the Pirates.