After hearing the news, the Mets starting pitcher left Shea Stadium. Pablo Martinez, also known as Paolino, passed away following a long battle with brain cancer. The younger Martinez had recently spent the All-Star break with his ailing father in the Dominican.

"I didn't have a chance to embrace him or anything like that," said manager Jerry Manuel, who watched Martinez leave in the seventh inning. "Sad day for him, for sure. We all at some point have felt the sting of death. Our prayers are certainly with him."

Only days earlier, Martinez said his right groin was healthy enough to pitch on Friday. With this news, the Mets announced that the 36-year-old pitcher will miss his next scheduled start. Mike Pelfrey will now pitch on Friday, and Johan Santana on Sunday, but a replacement for Saturday has yet to be determined