Martin gives mom the ultimate Mother's Day gift

HOUSTON -- Corbin Martin may never be able to give his mother a better Mother’s Day present than watching him make his big league debut. Martin’s mother, Barbara Bennett, and his 87-year-old grandmother, Barbara Gay, were on hand to see Martin earn his first career win in the Astros' 15-5 victory over the Rangers on Sunday -- Mother’s Day.

Martin gave up just two runs on three hits, walking one and striking out nine batters over 5 1/3 innings.

“He said ‘I was trying to figure out what to get you for Mother’s Day but I’ve got it figured out,’” Martin's mother said. “How perfect for me, in a selfish way? He’s put in a lot of hard work and this has been his dream since he was a little baby. It’s so wonderful for us to sit here. All the other times he’s played here, this is by far, of course, the most special.”

Martin grew up about an hour outside of Houston in Hempstead, Texas, and attended nearby Texas A&M, so he’s played at Minute Maid Park a few times. He was an Astros fan as a kid and had several friends and family in the stands Sunday.

“It’s really surreal and it’s kind of numbing,” Bennett said. “He’s been working for this his entire life. I don’t know what to say. We are seriously speechless. We walked in and the tears gathered and it’s really awesome. We’re trying to stay composed.”

Martin’s grandmother said nothing can beat this Mother’s Day.

“Any day he’s on the mound I will be here,” Gay said. “As long as I’m on his earth, I’ll be here. I can’t wait to get his jersey and put it on. Hopefully, if he makes it and they keep him, we’ll all get jerseys with his name and number. That’s it.”

The mothers of Astros players Alex Bregman, George Springer, Jose Altuve, Carlos Correa and Yuli Gurriel threw out ceremonial first pitches prior to Sunday’s game to their sons. In addition, Cindy Saenz, a 16-year breast cancer survivor from Weslaco, Texas, who works for the Astros, also threw out a ceremonial first pitch. She is the club’s 2019 Honorary Bat Girl.

As has been tradition since 2006, players used pink bats and sported pink wristbands through the “Going To Bat Against Breast Cancer” initiative, which is intended to raise awareness and, through donations and auction proceeds, funds to fight breast cancer. Players also wore specially designed New Era caps highlighted by a pink crown and team color brim, while uniforms featured the MLB breast cancer awareness logo, adorned with the symbolic pink ribbon, on the left chest.