DENVER — Pedro Martinez is getting the ball and the call in another big game.
Philadelphia manager Charlie Manuel chose the aging right-hander over J.A. Happ and Joe Blanton, who made cameo appearances out of the bullpen Thursday, to face the Colorado Rockies in Game 3 of their NL playoff series Saturday night.
The best-of-five series is tied at one game each.
Martinez is 6-2 with a 3.40 ERA in the postseason, and Manuel said he likes his history in cold weather, too. The forecast for Game 3 calls for temperatures dipping into the 20s with snow flurries.
The 37-year-old Martinez sat out most of the year before signing with the Phillies as a free agent last in the season. He went 5-1 with a 3.63 ERA in nine starts.
Acta to interview with Astros
HOUSTON — Former Washington Nationals manager Manny Acta says he’s been contacted by the Houston Astros about their managerial opening.
“To interview with the Astros is very exciting,” Acta said.
The Astros finished 74-88 in 2009. They fired Cecil Cooper on Sept. 21 and promoted third-base coach Dave Clark to run the team over the final two weeks. Clark is a candidate for the manager’s job.
Diamondbacks get Abreu
PHOENIX — The Arizona Diamondbacks have acquired 24-year-old infielder Tony Abreu from the Dodgers to complete a trade that sent pitcher Jon Garland to Los Angeles. The teams made the move to finish off the Aug. 31 deal.
Blue Jays GM shakes up staff
TORONTO — New Blue Jays general manager Alex Anthopoulos shook up his front office with a raft of changes to the team’s scouting and development departments. Former assistant general manager Tony LaCava was hired as director of player personnel, Charlie Wilson was named director of minor league operations and former Class AA manager Doug Davis became minor league field coordinator.
On the scouting side, Toronto named Andrew Tinnish director of amateur scouting, Perry Minasian as director of professional scouting and Jon Lalonde as a professional scout.
Toronto fired director of player development Dick Scott, scout Rob Ducey and Class AAA manager Mike Basso.
Tigers part ways with Van Slyke
DETROIT — First base and outfield coach Andy Van Slyke will not be returning to the Detroit Tigers. The team announced Van Slyke “decided to pursue other opportunities” and will not come back next season. The former Pittsburgh Pirates star had been part of Tigers manager Jim Leyland’s coaching staff for four seasons.
Tribe makes pitch to Cubs
MESA, Ariz. — An Indian tribe in Arizona is making a pitch to the Chicago Cubs to move their spring training sit. Members of the Gila River Indian tribe traveled to Chicago to speak with Cubs management about moving the training to the Indian nation south of Phoenix. The team, which currently holds spring training in Mesa, has said its in the market for a new facility.
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