With Mets pitching coach Rick Peterson and bullpen coach Guy Conti in attendance, the right-hander struck out four and walked one in a rehab start with Class-A St. Lucie.

"I got groundballs when I wanted and those are the things that I want to see," Martinez said. "Regardless of what happens, if they go through or whatever, I just want to get those ground balls."

Back-to-back errors and a wild pitch in the fifth inning led to both of Brevard County's runs off Martinez, who threw 72 pitches. He lowered the number of pitches he expected to throw after waking up today with a sore neck, though he said it did not bother him during the start.

"I was very pleased with the way my sinker was working and also the curveball. It was very steady," Martinez said. "I can't recall one of those breaking balls being bad and getting those cheap outs with the sinker and getting those groundballs when I wanted."

It's unclear where the three-time Cy Young Award will pitch next.

Martinez gave up five runs and six hits in three innings in his first rehab start on Aug. 8. He was charged with three runs in four innings with the Mets' Rookie-level Gulf Coast League team last Tuesday.

Peterson said before the game that the two were there for moral support more than to critique the performance. Martinez largely will decide whether he needs to face hitters of a higher caliber before playing in New York.

"That would be a determination that probably Pedro would make over anyone else," Peterson said.

"It's all predicated on what he feels about how he's doing."