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GAME LOG
ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) -- Pedro Martinez called it "a normal
outing."
Only by his standards.
Martinez, the only Boston pitcher to win this season, struck out
12 in 7 1/3 innings Sunday as the Red Sox beat the Anaheim Angels
5-2 and ended a four-game losing streak.
| | Pedro Martinez went 7 1/3 innings, giving up one run, scattering five hits and striking out 12 Angels. |
"I'm not here to judge outings. I'm here to pitch," said
Martinez (2-0), who had his streak of scoreless innings stopped at
32.
"My changeup was better, my curveball was better," he said.
"I worked on them in the bullpen. Everything seems to be coming
along now. It was just a good overall game. We hit the ball better,
played better defense, pitched better, and we got a win."
The unanimous AL Cy Young winner allowed one run and five hits,
and struck out at least 10 for the 10th straight start.
"He pitched great," manager Jimy Williams said. "The key to
the game was Pedro. He was changing speeds, got out in front."
The Red Sox are 2-4 this year. Aside from Martinez, Boston's starters are 0-3 with an 8.64 ERA.
"The other starters are going to pitch good," Williams said.
"They're veteran pitchers who know how to throw strikes, know how
to get outs, know how to win games."
Martinez threw 112 pitches before being relieved by Derek Lowe
with two on and one out in the eighth and the Red Sox leading 5-0.
Adam Kennedy greeted Lowe with an RBI single, and Scott Spiezio
homered with two outs in the ninth.
When asked what he could have done better, Martinez replied with
a smile, "Get the last two outs."
"I hate coming out in those situations," he said. "I didn't
feel tired. I actually felt pretty good. At this stage, it's good
to keep me at a limit, save me. They're going to try and keep me as
healthy as they can."
Martinez pitched seven scoreless innings in a 2-0 victory over
Seattle in the opener. He improved to 5-0 against the Angels.
As might be expected, the Angels were impressed.
"He was on, the bottom line is, he can throw any pitch any time
for strikes. That's a tough combination," said Troy Glaus, who
struck out four times _ three against Martinez. "He mixed it up
really good on everybody today. A good pitcher making good pitches
is tough to hit."
Angels slugger Mo Vaughn, who played with Martinez in Boston two
years ago, said the 28-year-old right-hander is better now.
When asked how to prepare for Martinez, Vaughn replied, "Have a drink."
"You could have two bats, and it ain't going to work," said
Vaughn, who went hitless in four at-bats -- three against Martinez.
"He could tell you what he's going to throw, and you're not going
to hit it. And it isn't going to get any better for the American
League."
Troy O'Leary hit his first two homers of the year, and Carl
Everett and Trot Nixon also homered as the Red Sox snapped the
Angels' three-game winning streak. All were solo shots.
Kent Bottenfield (0-1) had retired nine straight batters before
O'Leary and Everett hit consecutive homers with two outs in the
fourth to snap a scoreless tie.
O'Leary, who entered with two hits in 19 at-bats, sent an 0-2
pitch over the left-center field fence, and Everett hit
Bottenfield's next pitch into the right-field seats.
Everett hit a sacrifice fly off Bottenfield in the sixth to make
it 3-0. Nixon homered in the seventh and O'Leary hit his second of
the game in the eighth -- both off Al Levine.
Game notes Martinez finished the 1999 season with one scoreless
inning, then added 17 in the postseason and had 14 this year before
the streak ended. ... Martinez has struck out 10 or more 56 times
in his career. ... Boston third baseman John Valentin missed his
fourth straight game because of a sore left knee. "He's going to
have an MRI tomorrow, that's all I can tell you," Williams said.
... Angels SS Gary DiSarcina, who came out of Saturday night's game
in the eighth inning because of a bruised left thumb, also sat out
the game. X-rays showed no fracture, and DiSarcina is day to day.
... Red Sox reliever Bryce Florie, who pitched 1 1-3 innings
Saturday night before coming out with a strained left groin,
appears headed for the disabled list. "I keep hearing weeks, it's
not good," he said. Like Valentin, Florie will be examined Monday.
... The Angels activated LHP Jarrod Washburn from the 15-day
disabled list and optioned him to Triple-A Edmonton of the Pacific
Coast League.
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Baseball Scoreboard
Boston Clubhouse
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RECAPS
Baltimore 11 Detroit 6
Minnesota 13 Kansas City 7
Texas 7 Toronto 5
Boston 5 Anaheim 2
Oakland 14 Chi. White Sox 2
Seattle 9 NY Yankees 3
Cleveland 17 Tampa Bay 4
Florida 7 Colorado 6
Atlanta 9 San Francisco 3
Los Angeles 0 NY Mets 0
Cincinnati 8 Chicago Cubs 7
Montreal 2 San Diego 1
St. Louis 11 Milwaukee 2
Philadelphia 3 Houston 2
Arizona 1 Pittsburgh 0
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