Boston Red Sox
The defeat drops Boston four games behind the first-place Yankees with four to play, and Pedro Martinez will play second fiddle to Curt Schilling in the playoffs.
09:28 AM EDT on Thursday, September 30, 2004
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- In the aftermath of last night's 9-4 loss to the
lowly Tampa Bay Devil Rays, two things became abundantly clear: the Red
Sox aren't going to win the American League East, and for the first time
since he came to Boston, Pedro Martinez will not be pitching a playoff
opener for the Sox.
The Sox' defeat, coupled with a Yankee sweep of the Minnesota Twins,
dropped the Sox four games out in the race for the American League East
crown with four games to go. Unless the Sox win their last four while
the Yankees lose their final four, Boston will go into the playoffs as
the A.L. wild-card entrant.
"It was fun pushing (the Yankees)," said Terry Francona, all but
conceding the obvious. "I think the players were, too. We've tried to
acknowledge the importance of winning the American League East all
along. But we also have to use our very best judgment. Today was a big
swing (in the standings)."
Martinez, who lost his fourth straight start for the first time in more
than a decade, revealed that the Sox have opted to go with Curt
Schilling as their Game 1 starter in the ALDS next Tuesday. Martinez
sought clarification from Francona and pitching coach Dave Wallace
before Tuesday's game, not wanting to have the issue weighing on him
before his final start of the regular season.
No official word had been given by the organization, though there were
telling
signs shown, including Francona's statement yesterday afternoon that
Schilling might not pitch at all this weekend in Baltimore.
But until Martinez, recounting his insistence on going back out for the
fifth inning, said, "Since I'm not going to pitch Game 1, it was
probably worth it for me to go out there and complete all my pitches,"
there was no direct confirmation.
Asked whether he had a problem with the assignment being given to
Schilling, Martinez said: "Not at all. I should actually pitch fifth or
not even pitch in the playoffs if I continue to pitch like that. . . .
He was the No. 1 pitcher from the get-go. He deserves to start the No. 1
game.
"Without a doubt, he deserves to be the No. 1 starter. I hope he
performs the way he's been pitching. He's been better than Pedro
Martinez."
Martinez was, again, not sharp in finishing his season at 16-9. After
the Sox got him a run in the top of the first, he surrendered a run in
the bottom of the inning on a leadoff triple by Carl Crawford and a
throwing error by Orlando Cabrera. In the second, after a sacrifice fly
by Bill Mueller had given the Sox a second lead, at 2-1, he yielded an
RBI single to Toby Hall, a run-scoring triple to B.J Upton and a
sacrifice fly to Crawford.
A bobble by Gabe Kapler in center helped account for another Tampa run
in the fourth, and Jorge Cantu's sacrifice fly in the fifth closed the
book on Martinez's night -- and regular season.
"Like most (unsuccessful) pitchers, he threw too many pitches over the
middle of the plate and paid the price," Francona said.
Martinez hasn't won since Sept. 8, and his nine losses are the most ever
since joining the Red Sox. Over his last three starts, he's compiled an
E.R.A. of 9.35 and given up 27 hits in his last 17 1/3 innings.
"I'm not concerned at all," Martinez said. "I would like the (recent)
results to be better, but I'm healthy. Hopefully, the playoffs will be
better. I'm just going to watch video and let this go. The season is
over -- this doesn't have anything to do with the playoffs."
The Sox got single runs off Doug Waechter in the first and second. After
a two-out double by Manny Ramirez, David Ortiz delivered him with a
single in the first.
A single by Jason Varitek, a balk by Waechter, a flyout and a sacrifice
fly by Mueller in the second produced the second run. But the Boston
offense was stifled thereafter, collecting just four hits over the final
seven innings. Solo homers by Trot Nixon and Adam Hyzdu produced the
final two runs.
Meanwhile, a three-run homer by Tino Martinez off Alan Embree in the
eighth closed out the scoring.
|
More top stories
Old friend Gabe Kapler brightens rainy night at Fenway
Most viewed yesterday
Miles from shore, R.I. surfer prayed to get back home
A dazzling Manny being Manny moment
Patriots’ Tom Brady lauds Giants; wants to get past Spygate
Most active surveys
React to the guilty verdict in the Bunnell case
What's your favorite Manny Being Manny Moment?
Would you throw a pie at a speaker to make a point?
Comment on Travis Ford's decision to leave UMass for Oklahoma State
Most e-mailed in the last 24 hours









