Martinez improves to 10-0 against M’s

  • Larry LaRue / The News Tribune
  • Saturday, May 18, 2002 9:00pm
  • Sports

By Larry LaRue

The News Tribune

BOSTON – They have faced him in the twilight and in darkness, on hot days and cold nights.

On Saturday, the Seattle Mariners faced Pedro Martinez in the mist – and they still haven’t beaten him.

After a two hour, five minute rain delay, all the Mariners needed to see was a nine-pitch, three-strikeout first inning to know where this one was headed.

Like every other decision that’s involved Martinez and the Mariners, the game wound up a Boston Red Sox victory, 4-1.

“Well, we learned one more thing about him today,” John Olerud said. “He’s tough when he’s wet and cold, too.”

It was a miserable day for hitting no matter who was on the mound, a cold, breezy, wet afternoon in Fenway Park that Martinez sailed through as if he had an early supper engagement.

Seattle got its first hit in the third inning, it’s only run in the fourth – when Ruben Sierra drove an inside fastball over the fence into the Boston bullpen.

If the home run bothered Martinez, it didn’t show. By the time he turned a three-run lead over to the bullpen after eight innings, he’d used 99 pitches to do what he has always done against the Mariners.

Win.

“He’s 10-0 against us,” manager Lou Piniella said. “I guess you could say we’re due. You give him a couple runs early, he gets even tougher.”

Against James Baldwin, who lost his last start against Boston and Martinez, the Red Sox got two first-inning runs. They got more – one in the second, another in the fifth – but those first two runs would have been enough.

“We had a couple of shots where one hit might have gotten us right in the thing,” Mark McLemore said. “And whenever we got that shot, Pedro got out of trouble. He made the pitch every time he had to.”

The tone for what would become his 138th career win was set before most of the Fenway Park crowd had the chance to dry their seats.

Ichiro Suzuki lead off the game. Martinez threw three pitches, all strikes, and Suzuki was gone.

McLemore followed Suzuki. Three more pitches, all strikes, and McLemore sat down.

Sierra came third. Three pitches. Three strikes.

Have a nice day, fellows, Mr. Martinez is on duty.

“Was it a day conducive to hitting? No, it was miserable,” manager Lou Piniella said. “But you can’t choose the weather.

“And let’s be perfectly honest. Pedro Martinez is the best pitcher in baseball – and he’d pitch well if he were in the Mojave desert or an igloo in Alaska.”

Good as he was, Martinez left himself vulnerable three times in eight innings, and not once did the Mariners make him pay.

“You get pitches to hit, you just never get the same pitches to hit,” Olerud said. “He throws that fastball 95-96 miles an hour, then that cut fastball that moves and that changeup. He throws them all for strikes, and once in a while he’ll throw his breaking pitch.

“He’s got a great breaking pitch, too – he just doesn’t need it very often.”

Down 3-0 in the third inning, Carlos Guillen singled, took third base on Suzuki’s two-out single and then watched as Suzuki stole second base. A single might have scored two runs.

McLemore flied out.

“You got to bring your ‘A’ game against Pedro, and sometimes your ‘A’ game isn’t enough,” McLemore said. “I enjoy facing him. This game is about competition, about playing the best, and he is the best.

“He’s had success against me. He’s had success against this team. He’s had success against everybody.”

McLemore led off the sixth inning with a single but was erased on Sierra’s double play ground ball. Bret Boone then singled, and Olerud grounded out on a good changeup.

“It’s hard to wait when you’re thinking about that fastball in on your hands,” Olerud said.

The Mariners had one final little shot in the seventh inning when Mike Cameron was hit by a pitch, took second when Guillen grounded out. At least it was a runner in scoring position.

Ben Davis lined out to first, and Jose Offerman threw to second to double off Cameron.

And that was that.

Martinez has now made 10 career starts against Seattle and never lost, compiling a 0.94 earned run average in 77 innings.

“That first inning, it was still misty out there, and our guys came back to the dugout shaking their heads,” batting coach Gerald Perry said. “Pedro is nasty under the best of conditions. But Pedro Martinez in the mist?”

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Sports

Vancouver Giants goalie Burke Hood makes a play for the puck against the Everett Silvertips, who lost 6-2 to the Giants at Langley Events Centre on Saturday, one day after clinching a WHL playoff spot. (Rob Wilton, Giants/Special to Black Press Media).
Tips Week in Review: Everett first in WHL to clinch playoff berth

The Silvertips defeated Kamloops on Friday to secure spot, but lost to Vancouver on Saturday

The Edmonds-Woodway bench reacts to a foul call during the game against Shorewood on Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025 in Shoreline, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Prep basketball roundup for Monday, Feb. 10

Warriors win battle of division champs.

Vote for The Herald’s Prep Athlete of the Week for Feb. 2-8

The Athlete of the Week nominees for Feb. 2-8. Voting closes at… Continue reading

Lake Stevens’ Kamryn Mason attempts to flip Glacier Peak’s Kyla Brown onto her back during 110-pound match at the 4A girls wrestling district tournament on Friday, Feb. 7, 2025 in Mill Creek, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Vikings girls wrestling conquers 4A District 1 Tournament

Lake Stevens dominated with champions in six weight classes and 18 total state-qualifiers

Perfect week no help to Gonzaga

An unbeaten week against a pair of middle- to lower-tier West Coast… Continue reading

LeBron James (23) and Luka Doncic (77) of the Los Angeles Lakers look on as John Collins (20) of the Utah Jazz drives to the basket during the first quarter at Crypto.com Arena on Monday, Feb. 10, 2025, in Los Angeles. (Ronald Martinez / Getty Images / Tribune News Services)
Lakers’ LeBron James and Luka Doncic hit the ground running

LeBron James and Luka Doncic represent different generations and… Continue reading

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) smiles as head coach Nick Sirianni holds up the Lombardi trophy after they defeated the Kansas City Chiefs 40-22 in Super Bowl LIX at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, Sunday, Feb. 9, 2025. (Timothy A. Clary / AFP / Getty Images / Tribune News Services)
Eagles overwhelm Chiefs to win the Super Bowl

The Philadelphia Eagles perhaps did not vanquish the Kansas… Continue reading

Coach Derek Lopez (far right) and the Lake Stevens boys' wrestling team celebrates with their championship trophy at the WIAA 4A District 1 Tournament at Jackson High School on Feb. 8, 2025.
Lake Stevens boys capture district wrestling title

The Vikings had 17 state-qualifiers; second-place Arlington led with five weight class winners

Edmonds-Woodway wrestlers react to a pin during the match against Meadowdale on Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Prep boys wrestling roundup for Saturday, Feb. 8

Edmonds-Woodway boys wins Wesco 3A South wrestling title.

Kamiak’s Kai Burgess has her arm raised in the air after beating Arlington’s Jaymari O’Neal in the 125-pound match at the 4A girls wrestling district tournament on Friday, Feb. 7, 2025 in Mill Creek, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Rebuilding Kamiak girls wrestling steps forward at District Tournament

Ki Burgess and Eden Cole each won their weight class in Friday’s WIAA District 1 Girls’ 4A Tournament

Prep basketball roundup for Saturday, Feb. 8

Tulalip Heritage boys advance to district title game.

Meadowdale’s Kyairra Roussin takes the ball to the hoop during the game against Archbishop Murphy on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Prep girls basketball roundup for Friday, Feb. 7

Kyairra Roussin’s deep buzzer-beater lifts Meadowdale over Stanwood.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.