What they got for their trouble was a stark reminder of why Martinez
not only owned the best road ERA (1.80) in the American League but ranked
as the only pitcher in major league history to win as many as 78 of his
first 100 decisions for a single team.
They also endured a ghastly display of pinstriped bloopers that -
combined with Martinez's mastery of his archrivals - made all the
difference as the Sox snuffed the Steinbrenner Nine, 4-2, in the opener of
the pivotal weekend duel at Yankee Stadium. The victory, Boston's eighth
in 12 games against New York, lifted the Sox to within two games of the
Yankees in the AL East.
''This was very important because this is the team we're chasing and
every win we can get against these guys is going to be huge,'' Martinez
said. ''It also sets the tone for the next few days. I think it's going to
be really valuable because it gives us confidence. We have a groove now.''
Martinez, improving to 12-2 on the season, 6-1 on the road, and 79-22
in his Sox career, held off the Yankees for 7 1/3 innings by scattering
five hits and wriggling out of all but the final jam he created. He also
struck out nine, walked three, and twice hit Robin Ventura with pitches.
The New York masses spurred.
''For me, this is a exactly what I dream of: a full stadium, 60,000
people, and the pressure on me,'' Martinez said. ''I love when they dare
me to do something.''
Mussina was nearly Martinez's match, but he was undone in part by
gaffes that figured in the first three Sox runs. The goofs started when
second baseman Alfonso Soriano tripped first baseman Nick Johnson after he
caught a foul pop by Nomar Garciaparra in the fourth inning, allowing
Johnny Damon to easily tag up from third to stake the Sox to a 1-0 lead.
The second miscue came when Johnson bumped Mussina off a pop by Jason
Varitek in the seventh, allowing the swifter Varitek to replace Manny
Ramirez at first on a fielder's choice and score on Shea Hillenbrand's
double, making it 2-0.
And the bloopers ended with catcher Jorge Posada throwing wildly to
third for an error on a sacrifice by Jose Offerman, clearing the way for
Trot Nixon to dash home and hand Martinez a 3-0 lead in the eighth.
''We were able to capitalize on a few things out there,'' Sox manager
Grady Little said, with a touch of understatement.
The Yankees chased Martinez in the bottom of the inning after Derek
Jeter walked and Jason Giambi reached on a puny dribbler up the third base
line. Jeter scored when Bernie Williams, who was batting .167 (8 for 48)
against Martinez, laced a double to the right-field corner on the Sox
ace's last pitch of the game.
Still, Martinez was the story. ''He's about 170 pounds of pure heart,''
Little said.
With Chris Haney in for Martinez, Giambi scored on Ventura's ground out
to cut the lead to 3-2 and send Williams to third with the potential tying
run. But closer Ugueth Urbina, who pitched more than one inning for only
the second time this season, blew a third strike past Posada to strand
Williams.
At that, the Sox pounced on Mussina's successor, Steve Karsay. Varitek,
who has worked his way up to fifth in the Sox' order by batting .385 on
the road trip, set up a shot at an insurance run by socking his first
triple of the season over Williams in center. And Hillenbrand promptly
capitalized by singling home Varitek.
Mussina may have deserved better since he, too, scattered five hits,
and walked only one over eight innings. But the Sox won their fourth
straight thanks in varying degrees to New York's defense, Martinez and his
bullpen, and some timely Sox hitting.
''It was a good game from both sides,'' Martinez said. ''Thank God we
never let it go. We scored some key runs at key times and that was it.''
Much of the game unfolded like another memorable showdown between the
star pitchers. They had faced each other only twice since Mussina joined
the Yankees, with Mussina winning the first showdown, 2-1, and Martinez
taking the second, 3-0. The games unfolded six days apart last year - May
24 and May 30 - and the second matchup appeared to take so much out of
Martinez that it was his last victory of the season.
But Martinez said the only discomfort he felt last night related to the
lengthy rain delay that disrupted his pregame routine. He won his fifth
straight decision and snapped Mussina's five-game winning streak against
the Sox.
''That was vintage Pedro and Mr. Mussina,'' Little said. ''They both
pitched a hell of a game and we were fortunate to come out on top.''
The Sox got a huge lift from Urbina, who bounced back from losing one
game on the road trip and blowing a save to retire all four Yankees he
faced, including three on strikeouts.
By Bob Hohler, Globe Staff
This story ran on page E1 of the Boston Globe on 7/20/2002.
Copyright 2002 Globe Newspaper Company.