Pedro Martinez, Boston Red Sox, May 23, 2002 v. New York Yankees

pedro martinez
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Pedro Shoulders The Load Martinez Ices Yankees 3-1 in Opener of 4-Game Series 10Ks Move Him to 3rd on All-Time Red Sox List (1,076)

Thursday, May 23, 2002
New York Yankees at Boston Red Sox
Fenway Park, Boston, Massachusetts

Pedro’s Line

Box Score and play-by-play

Yankee clipper — Martinez has his way with rivals again
Bob Hohler, Boston Globe

The Yankees got reacquainted last night with the old Pedro Martinez, not the fragile impostor they bullied on their last visit to the Fens. And the grand master proved to be nearly as infallible as he was a year ago when he last dominated the Yankees, 3-0, and uttered the fateful threat against Babe Ruth that haunted him ever since. … “Who knows,” he said, “maybe the Bambino was looking out for me tonight.” No longer fretful over the rotator cuff he injured last year, Martinez struck out 10 and surrendered a mere four hits and two walks …

This time he was back to being armed force
Bob Duffy, Boston Globe

Pedro Martinez was a washed-up pitcher last night. Before he met the media, the Red Sox ace insisted on taking a shower. That seemed an extraneous exercise, considering he’d hardly broken a sweat while turning Yankee bats to dry rot in the latest masterful rebuttal to speculation about his demise, a 3-1 victory at Fenway Park.

He allowed four feeble hits in seven innings. He struck out 10, reaching double digits for the 81st time in his career. He notched his 1,076th strikeout with the Red Sox, third in team annals. .. He bumped his record to 7-0 and dropped his earned run average to 2.63. … He permitted the team that came to town hitting the ball out of the park at a historic pace – 74 homers in 47 games – one outfield out. He probably had his pitching peers across the country wondering, “Why can’t I have a frayed rotator cuff?”

Yankees’ patience wore thin — Martinez kept rivals frustrated
Nancy Marrapese-Burrell, Boston Globe

With one out in the top of the seventh inning and his team trailing by a pair of runs, Yankees catcher Jorge Posada was trying desperately to start a rally. He had two strikes against him when Pedro Martinez delivered a pitch that Posada thought he could hit. He tried to check his swing. Catcher Jason Varitek thought he swung and pointed at third base umpire Matt Hollowell. Hollowell called Posada out, but he couldn’t believe it. He stood there frozen in disbelief and for several seconds wouldn’t leave the batter’s box.

A timely dose of Pedro
Sean McAdam, Providence Journal

Five times this season, the Red Sox have had two-game losing streaks. Four times, like some on-call emergency mound technician, Pedro Martinez has succeeded in putting a quick end to them. Last night, almost as a bonus, Martinez beat the New York Yankees in the process. …

The performance was quite a contrast to Martinez’s start against the Yankees earlier this year, when he gave up five runs — including four in the first inning — over 5.1 innings. … “Not even close,” said Martinez when asked to compare his stuff last night to what he took to the mound on April 13. “There was such a big difference. All the time (in April), I was hurting. I wasn’t getting my pitches over.”

Pedro Simply Striking To Yanks
Dom Amore, Hartford Courant

The Yankees had made such a habit of beating Pedro Martinez, or at least hanging with him and beating the Red Sox on the days he pitched, that it was easy to forget he’s one of the best pitchers of the generation. But the Yankees got a heavy dose of reality, Pedro style, Thursday night. “He’s a cartoon character,” Jason Giambi said. “Cutters down and in … changeup down and in … thanks for coming.”

Pedro fans 10 as Sox down Yanks
Ian Browne, mlb.com

Wondering why there is so much hype for a Red Sox-Yankees series, even this early in the season? Thursday’s contest, played in front of 33,884 Fenway Park spectators, provided the answer. When these two longtime rivals meet, exciting and tensely fought games have a habit of happening. This 3-1 victory for the Red Sox was no exception.

Give Pedro A Fine Cigar — Passes Tiant With 10 Strikeouts
David Heuschkel, Hartford Courant

It had been nearly a year since Pedro Martinez beat the Yankees. It happened May 30 and turned out to be his last victory in 2001. … “Maybe the Bambino was looking out for me today,” Martinez said Thursday. “Do you believe that?” …

In 18 career starts against the Yankees, Martinez is 7-6 with a 2.66 ERA. Last season, he went 1-2 with a 2.37 ERA in six starts. Martinez has struck out 10 in a game 81 times – 54 with the Red Sox. In the second inning, Martinez struck out the side, moving past Luis Tiant into third place all-time on the Red Sox.

Pedro adds Giambi to victims list
John Tomase, Eagle-Tribune

Jason Giambi’s one of the best hitters in baseball. Not exactly a news flash. He entered last night’s game against the Red Sox on a certifiable hot streak. Hitting .419 (18 for 43) with four home runs in 10 games since May 12, Giambi gives opposing pitchers the cold sweats. At least those not named Pedro Martinez. To say Martinez toyed with Giambi last night suggests too much effort on Martinez’ part. … All told, Martinez threw Giambi 13 pitches. Giambi touched two of them, fouling one off. He didn’t come anywhere close to the other 11.

Pedro, Sox kick off super stretch
Lenny Megliola, Metrowest Daily News

Tony Clark put it right out there. Pedro Martinez? Are you asking me about Pedro? “I’ve always considered him the best in the business,” said the tall Red Sox first baseman who doesn’t have to face Martinez anymore. … Curses are what at least 10 Yankee batters muttered after Pedro’s four-hit, 10-strikeout beauty through seven innings back-boned Boston’s 3-1 win before 33,884 howling fans on a gorgeous May night, weather (75-degrees at game time) Pedro’s been praying for. “My god!, it feels great,” he said. “I didn’t blow on my hand until the fifth inning.”

Martinez (7-0) handles Yankees
Garry Brown, Springfield Union-News

He’s back. He’s all the way back, and nobody knows that better than the New York Yankees. The last time they faced Pedro Martinez, he didn’t look like the dominating ace they had come to know and respect. They drove him out of an April 13 start with five runs over five-plus innings. Only a late rally saved him from defeat. Well, no more of that.

Pedro pulls his Sox up against Yanks
Bill Ballou, Worcester Telegram & Gazette

Call it Red Sox physics, but there is a rule along Yawkey Way that says for every action, there is an opposite and equal overreaction. Latest case in point — Pedro Jaime Martinez, whose career was feared over after he pitched three lousy innings on opening day. Martinez has gone from being the Man Who Threw Too Much to being the No. 1 — wait, there’s Derek Lowe now — to being one of the dominant pitchers in baseball.

Ace has his way with Yankees
John Connolly, Boston Herald

When all was said and done, last night’s four-hit, 10 strikeout, 3-1 masterpiece by Sox ace Pedro Martinez left most of the New York Yankees glancing askance at their bats, looking for holes. And if Martinez’ 65-strike, 104-pitch effort gave the Yankees cause to mutter on the way back to the dugout, knuckleballer Tim Wakefield and speedballer Ugueth Urbina brought the New Yorkers’ grand total of whiffs to a staggering 14. “We thought we could possibly get him tired, if nothing else,” Yankees manager Joe Torre said of Martinez. “The fact that he went 3-2 on a lot of hitters. The guys worked him but he always has the hammer when he needs it.”

Pedro shrugs off Yanks: Fans 10 as Sox win series opener
Jeff Horrigan, Boston Herald

Pedro Martinez claims that there is really nothing special about a Red Sox-Yankees series. Last year, he spat on the contrived “Curse of the Bambino” … On Wednesday, Martinez went so far as to say that Boston and New York don’t even have a rivalry, just intense competition between teams that are actually quite chummy with each other. Whether you call it a battle, an intramural skirmish or a love-in, there’s no way Martinez’ pitching last night could be confused with friendly fire.

Pedro shines in spotlight: Fires up emotion for big show
Steve Buckley, Boston Herald

In the top of the seventh inning last night at Fenway Park, Pedro Martinez fed a 1-2 curveball to Jorge Posada that the Yankees catcher either did or did not swing at, depending on your point of view on the situation. Plate umpire Mark Hirschbeck looked down to third base umpire Matt Hollowell for help. Up went Hollowell’s hand. Strike three. … It was not the most important out in the Red Sox’ 3-1 victory over the Yankees, and the strikeout did not represent any particular milestone in Pedro’s brilliant career. Yet the strikeout was significant in this respect: Li’l Petey pumped his fist, Oogie Urbina-like, as Posada stood there at the dish staring back at Hollowell, and it was one of the few occasions when Martinez showed anything resembling emotion.

Two aces a full house: Pedro, Lowe a potent pair
Karen Guregian, Boston Herald

The choices are Pedro Martinez or Derek Lowe. The question? Which of these Red Sox hurlers do you want pitching Game 7 of the World Series? Yes, the question is incredibly presumptuous. And, coming on May 21, utterly ridiculous. Back in April, with all of Pedro’s Cy Young Awards and all of Derek’s blown saves, one would also call it blasphemous. But let’s live dangerously for a minute.

Pedro is one for the books
Bill Ballou, Worcester Telegram & Gazette

Now that he’s healthy again, Pedro Martinez is continuing his assault on the Red Sox record books. Last night, Martinez moved past Luis Tiant into third place on Boston’s all-time strikeout list. He has 1,085. Three of the top four were at Fenway last night — Martinez, Tiant and Roger Clemens, who pitches tonight for the Yankees. Cy Young is the other.

Martinez’s career record with Boston improved to 74-20. He is six decisions shy of having enough to rank on the franchise’s all-time list for winning percentage. Even if Martinez loses his next six decisions, he’ll be the Sox’s all-time best at .740. His present winning percentage of .785 is off the chart. The current leader, Smokey Joe Wood, is at .676. Clemens is .634 at 192-111.

Martinez does, however, have enough overall major league decisions to be on the official list and is currently the winningest pitcher in major league history. His record is 139-59, a winning percentage of .702. He is the only pitcher above .700.

Pedro shows the Yankees he’s back
Bob Klapisch, espn.com

One by one, the Yankees nodded their approval, uttering quiet words of respect. They’d just witnessed a miniature Pedro Martinez classic — seven innings, four hits, 10 strikeouts — which was more than enough for the Bombers to concede America’s most famous rotator cuff was indeed healthy again. … He is, after all, the most important member of the Red Sox Nation, and the sole bridge to the October promised land. Pedro is 7-0 for the first time with the Red Sox and the first time since 1997, which means the man is, once again, The Man.

Martinez Up to Old Tricks
Arthur Staple, Newsday

Waiting for Pedro Martinez to falter is akin to waiting for Charlie Brown to finally kick that football Lucy’s holding in those “Peanuts” comics. Martinez may tempt and taunt hitters with the odd missed pitch, but unless a hitter can outsmart one of the bigs’ most dominant pitchers, Martinez gets the last laugh and the batter is flat on his back, so to speak. Lacking any real chances to touch Martinez up last night in the first of four games at Fenway Park, the Yankees tried the waiting game. Charlie Brown loses again.

Pedro Leaves Yanks Dazed and Confused
George King, New York Post

Mariano Rivera’s groin is good. David Wells’ back probably will allow him to pitch tomorrow. So much for the positive Yankees vibes. Rivera and Wells said their health was improving before the great Pedro Martinez made the Yankees look ill at the plate on the way to a 3-1 Red Sox victory in front of 33,884 at Fenway Park last night.

Armed with a 94-mph fastball, Martinez nicked corners with a 74-mph change-up and a breaking ball he threw in any count. Afterwards, he had the Yankees buzzing about how good one of the best pitchers in baseball was.

Bombers Can’t Touch Martinez
Anthony McCarron, New York Daily News

For seven innings last night, Pedro Martinez’s pitches veered into every crevice of the strike zone. “Inside, outside, up and in, down and in, down and away, up and away,” Jason Giambi said. “He threw everything for a strike and he didn’t miss anywhere. There was never anything right over the plate.”

Pedro Says Win Ain’t Worth Beans
Andrew Tripaldi, New York Daily News

They yelled into the night, after walking out of the stadium, as if their Red Sox had added more legitimacy to their torrid 31-13 start this season. These fans, tormented by decades of frustration and filled with envy directed toward their New York counterparts, sense their team’s magical year will continue. But even after Boston’s win last night, you get the sense that the Red Sox still have some questions regarding whether they have enough firepower to surpass the Yankees in the postseason.

Martínez and Red Sox Cool Off Yanks
Tyler Kepner, New York Times

Jorge Posada hunched over the dugout steps in the seventh inning, snapping on his catcher’s gear while staring and shouting at the home plate umpire, Mark Hirschbeck. Posada had just been struck out again by Pedro Martínez, the Boston Red Sox ace who made the Yankees swing through and stare at his pitches tonight.

Pedro strikes again  — Yanks have few chances … and Bernie botches one
Dan Graziano, New Jersey Star-Ledger

They weren’t going to have too many chances. Not the way Pedro Martinez was pitching. So in the sixth inning of what would turn out to be a 3-1 loss to the Red Sox, the Yankees tried something a little daring. This was the kind of move that looks brilliant if it works and terrible if it doesn’t. In the Yankees’ case, it didn’t work, and their best chance to tie the game against Martinez went down the tubes.

Martinez quiets Yanks with 10 Ks
Mike Klis, Denver Post

When the Yankees brought their 26 World Series titles to Fenway Park for this weekend’s ballyhooed four-game, series against the Red Sox, Martinez again was asked about that silly little trade Boston made 83 years ago when they moved left-handed pitcher Babe Ruth to the Bronx in exchange for cash. ..

“I like history, but not in that way,” Martinez said. “Actually somebody asked me once if I could face somebody from back then, who would I face? And I said Babe Ruth. But not only to face me, I would have liked to have seen him over 500 at-bats. I would have like to have seen Ted Williams play. I like history, but I think the Bambino … was one of the greatest men in the baseball community. I don’t think he would want to curse even his worst enemy.”

Pre-Game

In May, It’s Too Early for Pennant Fever
Joel Sherman, New York Post

Sure, these Yankee-Red Sox games do not matter to the participants. … For now, though, the Red Sox are a very good team with a good aura about them. They look no worse than a close second to the Yanks, which all but guarantees an October invite. Then, and probably only then, would a Red Sox-Yankee matchup be unforgettable theater. “This is the battle,” Martinez said, “not the war.”

‘Primed’ For Battle
Andrew Marchand, New York Post

ESPN analyst Joe Morgan looks at the standings a little differently. The way he sees it, the first-place Sox are chasing the second-place Yankees. “No matter what we say about the Red Sox, the Yankees cast a big shadow over the rest of the American League,” the Hall of Famer said. … “After last year, I will never pick against the Yankees,” said Morgan, who’s been accused at times of anti-Yankee feelings (a charge he denies).

These Bosox on Course to Beat Curse
Joel Sherman, New York Post

Just like clockwork, every 84 years, the Red Sox own the Yankees. Now, I know jumping on the Red Sox bandwagon in May is kind of like hoping for the best after stepping in front of a speeding train. … Yet, it is hard to resist stating just how un-Cursed this team has looked.

Yank-Sox Rivalry Lives On
Filip Bondy, New York Daily News

Ted Lilly, ewe-eyed kid with a biting curveball, pulled his socks on yesterday inside the Yankee clubhouse, one at a time. He figured the other guy would do the same tonight, but nobody could be sure. “I look forward to it,” Ted Lilly was saying, and he seemed to mean it. “Fenway carries a lot of tradition. It doesn’t resemble any other park, and the Red Sox aren’t like any other franchise.”

Spirit of the Sox — Legend of John Henry just beginning in Boston
Bill Madden, New York Daily News

It is early on a cool, sun-splashed Saturday morning, a good 3½ hours before gametime, and John Henry has just arrived at his office in Fenway Park, greeted by the sound of hundreds of people congregating along Yawkey Way beneath his window. “Listen to that, he says. “It’s like this every day. Even when the Kansas City Royals were in here last month, they were there. Fans. Happy fans. Baseball people. Just milling around waiting for the gates to open. You’ve got to understand, from where I came, I’m not used to this.”

Sox: It’s Different This Year
Andrew Tripaldi, New York Daily News

Yankees fans have seen this before. The Red Sox surge out of the gate at lightning speed, posting an impressive record over the first couple of months of the season. But when late summer arrives, Boston usually falters, because its key players suffer significant injuries, or the clubhouse is immersed in turmoil. The Yankees charge into the postseason, leaving the Red Sox behind to add another year to the Curse of the Bambino.

That begs the questions Yankee loyalists are pondering entering this weekend’s four-game series at Fenway Park with first place at stake: What makes the Red Sox different from past years? Why should people now take them seriously?

Red Sox Hope This Is the Year
Jack Curry, New York Times

The simmering questions surrounding another hopeful season with the Boston Red Sox always gravitated toward Pedro Martínez. Naturally. Would his valuable right shoulder be healthy? Would he still be the intimidating pitcher who could help turn the Red Sox from solid to scintillating? Could the mighty Pedro finally guide Boston by those damn Yankees?

No yanking him into series hype
Bob Hohler, Boston Globe

No one needs to remind Pedro Martinez he failed to win a game last year after he beat the Yankees May 30 and threatened to drill Babe Ruth’s ghost in the backside. … “There’s no rivalry. I love Bernie Williams. I love Derek Jeter. I love everybody. We just compete. We’re not part of that Babe Ruth stuff. We don’t have anything to do with it. I wasn’t even born then. .. It’s actually boring. Go ask someone else. I’m very sick of it.”

With Yanks in town, it’s real deal
Steven Krasner, Providence Journal

The “real” baseball season resumes this weekend, with the Yankees visiting Fenway Park for a four-game series against the Red Sox, beginning tonight. This will be the second series of the year between the Sox and their American League rivals. Boston took three of four from New York in early April. Red Sox ace Pedro Martinez will face Ted Lilly tonight. Both teams have been hot lately, leaving the teams only one game apart in the standings, with Boston in first. New York has won 13 of its last 15 games. Boston has won 24 of its last 33.

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