Martinez pays tribute to lost friends Ventura, Taveras in opener

Yordano Ventura and Oscar Taveras were on Carlos Martinez's mind Sunday prior to his Opening Day start against the Chicago Cubs.

Before the 25-year-old St. Louis Cardinals right-hander took the hill against the division rival, he paid tribute to his deceased friends by drawing their numbers in the dirt of the pitching mound.

Martinez was close friends with Taveras and Ventura, who both had their lives taken in separate automobile accidents in the Dominican Republic.

Taveras and his girlfriend passed away in 2014, while Ventura died in January.