By BART HUBBUCH

Last updated: 7:06 am
July 3, 2008
Posted: 3:12 am
July 3, 2008

ST. LOUIS - Pedro Martinez won't let one of the worst stretches of his storied career drive him from the game.

The three-time Cy Young winner vowed to fight through after another rough outing last night in the Mets' eventual 8-7 loss to the Cardinals. Martinez, who spent almost two months on the DL with a strained hamstring, is 2-2 with an unsightly 7.39 ERA in seven starts this season.

"If I was to quit right now, I would be a coward," Martinez said. "You have a lot more chances of seeing me [quit] when everything is going smooth than right now. I'm going to try to find a way and face whatever adversity is out there."

Martinez battled back after a four-run first last night but still has allowed at least five earned runs in each of his past three starts.

"Now I know how it feels to be on the other side of the coin, so I'm just going to continue to battle and do what I can to help this team win a ballgame," he said. "If I fall short, well, I'm going to go home proudly. I'm not going to quit."

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Gimpy second baseman Luis Castillo could be on the verge of becoming a part-time player, and that's assuming Castillo doesn't go on the DL for an extended stretch in the very near future. Jerry Manuel benched Castillo yet again last night and said a decision on the gimpy veteran is likely to come very soon. "Louie is somewhat struggling health-wise with his [quadriceps]," Manuel said.

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Manuel said relentless rain in Florida that wreaked havoc with Moises Alou's rehab schedule is the reason Alou is now unlikely to come off the DL before Monday in Philadelphia. Alou, sidelined since June 13 with a strained left calf, flew to New York yesterday after having two rehab assignments in Florida washed out. Alou will now resume his rehab stints tomorrow at Double-A Binghamton.