If there was any doubt Pedro Martinez was the best pitcher in baseball, tonight's game removed all doubt. Returning from his BS 5 game suspension and pitching in front of the guy who suspended him, Frank Robinson, Pedro was masterful, tossing a complete game 2 hit shut-out, backed by another 16 hit Boston attack to guide the Red Sox to a 9-0 victory at Camden Yards.
Baltimore Orioles starter Sidney Ponson hung tough throughout the game to give the bullpen a much needed rest after the beating they took the night before. Still, the Red Sox had no problem scoring in the top of the first. Jose Offerman and Darren Lewis both singled and Trot Nixon scored Offerman with a base hit into right field that advanced Lewis to third. Brian Daubach beat out a double play ball to score Lewis but Jason Varitek didn't and the Sox led 2-0 already. Pedro was simply dominant the whole game including the bottom of the first. Brady Anderson struck out swinging, Delino Deshields lined out and BJ Surhoff looked at strike 3 to end the inning.
The Sox struck again in the top of the second. Troy O'Leary whiffed but Mike Stanley walked and Wilton Veras singled. Donnie Sadler flied out. Offerman singled up the middle to score Stanley to make it 3-0. Lewis struck out to end the inning. Pedro continued to dominate the bottom of the second inning. Albert Belle struck out, Harold Baines grounded out and Jeff Conine struck out to end the inning.
Ponson finally had a clean inning in the top of the third. Nixon flied out, Daubach grounded out and Varitek flied out to end the inning. Pedro cruised in the bottom of the third inning. Greg Myers struck out, Mark Lewis flied out and Mike Bordick struck out to end the inning. 9 up, 9 down.
Ponson cruised in the top of the fourth. O'Leary and Stanley flied out and Veras grounded out to end the inning. Pedro continued his dominance in the bottom of the fourth. Anderson flied out, DeShields lined out and Surhoff grounded out. 12 up, 12 down....wow.
The Sox struck again in the top of the fifth. Sadler flied out but Offerman struck his third home run of the year to put the Sox up 4-0. Lewis singled and swiped second before Nixon walked. Daubach bounced into a double play to end the inning. The O's finally got a hit off Pedro in the bottom of the fifth. Belle poked a ground ball just past Offerman to break up the perfect game. Baines flied out but Conine blooped a ball just in front of Lewis. Facing his only resistance all day, Pedro punched out Myers and got Lewis to ground into a force to end the inning. That was the last baserunner Pedro would allow.
Ponson hung around for the top of the sixth. Varitek grounded out and O'Leary struck out, but Stanley singled. Veras flied out to end the inning. Pedro turned up the heat in the bottom of the sixth. Bordick struck out, Anderson struck out and DeShields struck out to end the inning.
Ponson remained tough in the top of the seventh. Sadler lined out, Offerman grounded out and Lewis lined out to end the inning. Martinez was in his groove in the bottom of the seventh. Surhoff grounded out, Belle popped up and Baines whiffed to end the inning.
Ponson returned for the eighth and the Sox scored on him again. Nixon grounded out but Daubach doubled. Daubach was erased on the force by Varitek. O'Leary singled and Stanley singled home Varitek to make it 5-0. Veras flied out to end the inning. The O's were helpless against Pedro in the bottom of the 8th inning. Conine, Myers and Lewis all struck out in short order.
Calvin Maduro replaced Ponson in the top of the ninth and the Sox smacked him around too. Sadler flied out but Offerman and Lewis stroked back to back hits. Nixon singled home Offerman and Daubach belted a 3 run home run to wrap up the scoring. Varitek whiffed but O'Leary doubled. Stanley flied out to end the inning. Pedro returned to finish the job in the bottom of the ninth. Bordick struck out, Anderson popped up and Deshields whiffed to end the game. A 2 hit, 15 strikeout shut-out by Martinez...what a game.
Hero of the night is easy. Pedro Martinez dazzled in a complete game 2 hit shutout, striking out 15 batters. He improved to 6-1 with a 1.01 ERA.
The Good:
Jose Offerman had a big game going 4 for 5 with a home run, 3 runs scored and 2 total rbi's. Darren Lewis was 3 for 5 with 2 runs scored and a stolen base. Trot Nixon was 2 for 4 with a walk, run scored and 2 rbi's. Brian Daubach was 2 for 5 with a run scored and 4 total rbi's after hitting a 2 run home run. Troy O'Leary was 2 for 5. Mike Stanley was 2 for 4 with a run, rbi and a walk.
The Bad:
Donnie Sadler was 0 for 4.
The Ugly:
Jason Varitek was 0 for 5 but scored a run. Wilton Veras was just 1 for 4.
Final Thoughts:
It helps to have the best pitcher in baseball but it also helps when you score a lot of runs for him. Pedro was more fired up than usual with Frank Robinson sitting behind the plate and it showed. He mowed down the O's from start to finish. If only the Sox had another starter even close to him, they'd be in great shape moving forward. It was great to see the offense click without Carl Everett, John Valentin and Nomar Garciaparra, all out with injuries. The win moved the Sox to 20-12, 2 1/2 games behind the New York Yankees for first place in the AL East. Jeff Fassero (4-1, 4.31 ERA takes the mound against Jason Johnson in Game 3 of this series.
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