Denver ? The cold and snow in Colorado scrapped plans for Pedro Martinez’s first postseason start in five years.

Game 3 of the Philadelphia-Colorado playoff series was postponed a day because of weather Saturday better suited for cross-country skiing. About an hour before the scheduled start it was 24 degrees. The delay prompted a pitching switch by the Phillies, with left-hander J.A. Happ going to the mound tonight instead of the 37-year-old Martinez.

The Rockies are sticking with Jason Hammel in the best-of-five series tied at a game apiece.

Moreover, the snowout allowed Philadelphia manager Charlie Manuel to go with an all-lefty rotation against a Rockies team that sports potent left-handed hitters in Todd Helton, Ian Stewart, Seth Smith, Carlos Gonzalez, Brad Hawpe and Jason Giambi.

“I thought it was a tremendous way of putting all of our left-handed pitchers on them,” said Manuel, who will go with Game 1 winner Cliff Lee on Monday against Colorado ace Ubaldo Jimenez. That will allow Phillies ace Cole Hamels to pitch on regular rest Tuesday back in Philadelphia if a Game 5 is necessary.

The Rockies went 27-26 against left-handed starters during the season and 65-44 against righties.

“I like left-handed pitchers against this team,” Manuel said.

The Rockies hit .253 against lefties, .264 against righties.

With Martinez on the mound, the Rockies would have used their most potent lineup with Stewart at third base, Smith in left and maybe Gonzalez in center.