Back behind plate, Martin says shoulder feels great

Scouting report, courtesy of Gerrit Cole, on Russell Martin, who on Sunday returned behind the plate after dealing for two weeks with a sore shoulder: Martin looked fine throwing the ball 60 feet, six inches — back to the mound to Cole, who didn’t give his batterymate any other opportunities to throw.

Pretty efficient,” said Cole after a win that ended a few minutes before the 1-A of Pittsburgh’s vaunted tandem of young pitchers — Jameson Taillon — took the mound in Phoenix for Canada against the United States in the World Baseball Classic.

“And I felt great, throwing to second,” said Martin, following his return to catching after two weeks off with a sore shoulder.

“I felt like I was throwing 80 percent, but I don’t feel like I ever need to throw 100, because I’m not as accurate when I do.

After walking Machado and running the count to Flahery to 2-and-0, Cole got a mound visit from Martin, who reminded him that, already leading, 4-0, he needed to just concentrate on the hitter.

Martin wouldn’t have been trying to avert Cole’s attention from the runner so Machado might take off and test his arm, would he? He came out of the game when Cole did, giving both plenty of time to reflect on a mutually big day.

Hopefully, I’ll get to work with him a lot more,” Cole said, knowing full fell that would happen when he is in the big leagues, not merely big league camp.

Cole, at only 22, does well in the thinking department, Martin stressed.