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Joy and pain Pedro likely DL bound, but Sox improve to 11-0 vs. Rays
Updated: Wednesday June 27, 2001 12:24 AM
BOSTON (AP) -- Even after beating Tampa Bay for the 11th straight time, the Boston Red Sox were in no mood to celebrate -- Pedro Martinez is hurting once again. Red Sox manager Jimy Williams said Martinez is likely headed for the disabled list for the third straight year. He was pulled from Tuesday night's 7-6 win over the Devil Rays after allowing four runs in less than five innings. "We haven't done it yet officially, but there's a pretty good chance [Martinez will go on the DL]," Williams said. Williams said Martinez will undergo tests Wednesday for pain in his right shoulder. The three-time Cy Young winner wasn't available for comment. Martinez has been sidelined at midseason each of the last three years. Pitching coach Joe Kerrigan said he was frustrated because the Red Sox tried to pace Martinez specifically to avoid another breakdown. "We did everything in our power to keep this from happening again," he said. Martinez missed a start earlier this month against Atlanta because of soreness in his shoulder. Kerrigan said Martinez's slight, 170-pound frame simply can't take the same kind of punishment as bigger power pitchers like Roger Clemens and Curt Schilling. "These guys can get through because they have the extra meat to protect them," Kerrigan said. "He doesn't have the extra meat." The injury overshadowed a comeback win that saw Scott Hatteberg drive in the go-ahead run when Victor Zambrano walked him on four pitches in the eighth inning. Shea Hillenbrand singled with one out in the eighth and scored the tying run on Brian Daubach's triple to the triangle in center. Zambrano (0-1) then walked Lou Merloni, Chris Stynes and Hatteberg. Zambrano struck out Trot Nixon and Manny Ramirez to end the inning. The Devil Rays took a 6-5 lead in the top of the eighth on Aubrey Huff's home run into the left-field screen off Rod Beck (4-3). Derek Lowe pitched the ninth for his 14th save. "It was a tough night," said Tampa Bay catcher John Flaherty. "We got ourselves in trouble and we couldn't get out." Tampa Bay last beat Boston on Sept. 29, 2000, an 8-6 decision. Manager Hal McRae said the close game was progress. "We made progress the last two games by making teams beat us,' he said. 'We need to keep doing that." Zambrano's troubles came after a wild prelude in which the teams traded grand slams. The Devil Rays took a 5-1 lead in the fifth. Brent Abernathy singled with two outs, and singles by Felix Martinez and Randy Winn scored a run. Martinez then hit Steve Cox with a pitch, loading the bases for Greg Vaughn. "His velocity was down," Hatteberg said of Martinez. "He didn't have the command he normally does." Williams brought in Rolando Arrojo to face Vaughn, who homered to straightaway center. It was the fifth slam of Vaughn's career. Nixon tied it at 5 with a grand slam in the seventh. Daubach singled and Merloni and Hatteberg walked to load the bases.Nixon greeted reliever Travis Phelps with a shot to center for his second career slam. But after the game, the big hits were overshadowed by the loss of Martinez. "We've done it without him before," Hatteberg said. "We're going to have to do it again."
Notes: Ben Grieve reached over the right-field wall to rob Ramirez of a home run in the third. In the first inning, Grieve dropped Ramirez's double to the wall. ... Hatteberg has thrown out just one of 35 runners who've attempted to steal this year.
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