NEW YORK -- Mets right-hander Pedro Martinez left his start against the Colorado Rockies after the fourth inning on Saturday with tightness in his right shoulder.
Martinez walked Matt Holliday on five pitches leading off the fourth when he motioned to the dugout. Manager Jerry Manuel and a trainer came out for a short visit, but Martinez stayed in the game and retired Garrett Atkins on a fly ball.
The three-time Cy Young Award winner had not allowed a hit until Brad Hawpe followed Atkins with a single. Martinez got out of the inning when Chris Iannetta grounded into a double play.
Nick Evans pinch hit for Martinez and struck out with the bases loaded. Martinez was replaced by Carlos Muniz to start the fifth inning with the Mets leading 1-0.
The oft-injured Martinez missed about two months earlier this season with a strained left hamstring. He also missed most of last season after having surgery on his right shoulder late in 2006.
Martinez, who walked around the clubhouse with a large ice pack on his right hip before the game, threw 66 pitches with three walks and three strikeouts.
The 36-year-old has struggled when he's been healthy, carrying an unsightly 6.86 ERA into his eighth start since coming off the disabled list. Manuel has said part of the problem is Martinez has been tipping his pitches
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