Pedro Martínez had returned to Yankee Stadium, conquered the endless boos, the sloppy weather, a disturbing sliver of the past and, most of all, the inept Yankees. Now Martínez was wearing a funky white shirt and chatting with several Spanish-speaking reporters about his successful visit yesterday.
Martínez spoke quickly and happily about how he had simply done his job in powering the Boston Red Sox to a tidy 2-0 victory. Martínez had already given a short statement for English-speaking reporters and said he would not field questions from them.
But on an afternoon when Martínez was more of a shrewd pitcher than an overpowering one, he relented and did a brief interview in English, too. He actually said there were no swirling emotions attached to being back in the park where the American League Championship Series had ended so devastatingly for him and the Red Sox last October.
"This was normal," Martínez insisted. "Normal routine, normal game, normal things from the fans. I don't have anything against it. I respect that."
Was yesterday really normal? Games between the Yankees and the Red Sox are usually viewed differently, especially when Martínez was facing the Yankees for the first time since Grady Little, the manager at the time, allowed him to pitch the eighth inning in Game 7 of the A.L.C.S., a 5-2 cushion evaporated and Aaron Boone made Boston's potential trip to the World Series die.
But still, when Martínez was asked a second time how he felt about being on the mound in the Bronx, he repeated that it was simply another day at work. Martínez said he had "a lot of respect" for the Yankees, called them a team that is "struggling right now" and added that there was "nothing at all" about the final A.L.C.S. game 192 days ago that affected him yesterday.
"They beat us that other time in Game 7," Martínez said. "That's fine. We respect them for that, too."
As much as Martínez tried to minimize the idea that yesterday was related to Oct. 16, in some way, everything that happens in this rivalry is going to be related. Every time Martínez faces the Yankees, there will be some thought about how the Red Sox were five outs from the World Series last season. It does not mean it will influence Martínez, but it will be in the air.
"We got beat," catcher Jason Varitek said about a game that has been and will long be dissected in Boston. "We didn't beat ourselves."
With much less at stake yesterday, the results were different for Martínez and the Red Sox. Martínez pitched seven glistening innings, limiting the Yankees to four hits, striking out seven and walking one. He did not get an opportunity to throw one pitch in the eighth this time.
Martínez has been scrutinized this season because he has not had his usual velocity of about 95 miles an hour and has been throwing a fastball that averages about 89. But Martínez also throws a changeup, a curveball and a cut fastball, and he is extremely savvy. Varitek said Martínez had an "innate ability to read guys from the mound" and make constant adjustments.
Obviously, Martínez did a lot of reading yesterday. He began the game by tossing modest fastballs, but Martínez spotted them so crisply that the Yankees did no damage. Once the Yankees looked for fastballs, Martínez incorporated his breaking pitches, flustered the Yankees even more and ushered Boston to the three-game sweep.
The Yankees had their best scoring chance against Martínez in the fifth. Jorge Posada walked and went to third when Ruben Sierra slapped a one-out double. But Martínez induced Enrique Wilson to pop out and struck out Derek Jeter on a 1-2 curve.
"That was the best I've seen Pedro pitch ever since I put on a uniform here," center fielder Johnny Damon said.
Interestingly, the proud Martínez, who has always adored his image as an intimidating pitcher, admitted that times had changed. He is 32 years old and cannot compete with Randy Johnson for velocity anymore. But he can compete with anyone as a pitcher.
"I'm not the pitcher who will throw 97 every time," Martínez said. "I'm a more mature pitcher. I can throw 93, 92, 91. I can throw to my strengths. If I throw to my strengths, velocity isn't important."
Varitek said, "When everybody is questioning him and worrying about him, you've got to believe in the man. The man knows what to do."
The man said "it is too early" for the Red Sox to have sent a message to the Yankees. The man also refused to get too giddy about seven superb innings, stressing that he is supposed to pitch nine. Finally, the man innocently added "the longer I stay there, the better." Yesterday, yes. Last October, no.
By Jack Curry.
From The New York Times of April 26, 2004.