Pedro Martinez’s top 5 Boston Red Sox moments
Oct 24, 2013; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Red Sox former pitcher Pedro Martinez walks to the mound to throw out the ceremonial first pitch with other members of the 2004 Boston Red Sox prior to game two of the MLB baseball World Series against the St. Louis Cardinals at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports
Pedro Martinez is undoubtedly one of the greatest players to ever wear a Boston Red Sox uniform. Every time he took the mound the ballpark buzzed with an electric atmosphere that left fans on the edge of their seats, waiting to witness his next great masterpiece.
On the verge of Martinez’s induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame, let’s look back at some of the most memorable moments of his historic career. There are so many that stand out, ranging from his battle with Roger Clemens in the 1999 ALCS, to the “immaculate inning” where he struck out three straight Seattle Mariners on a total of 9 pitches. There was the time he tussled with Don Zimmer and the time he dismissed any notion of a curse by claiming he would drill Babe Ruth if given the chance to face him.
When reflecting upon the career of a legend like Martinez, it’s not easy narrowing his accomplishments down to determine the greatest of the great. Here’s my attempt to capture a few of my favorite memories of the man Boston would always know as Pedro.
World Series win (October 26, 2004)
Oct 24, 2013; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Red Sox former pitcher Pedro Martinez (middle) reacts with his former 2004 World Series teammates after throwing out the ceremonial first pitches before game two of the MLB baseball World Series against the St. Louis Cardinals at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports
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Pedro’s first career World Series victory was also his last time taking the mound in a Red Sox uniform. Martinez struck out six over seven shutout innings to lead his team to a 4-1 win over the St. Louis Cardinals in Game 3, putting Boston on the verge of a sweep that would deliver the franchise their first championship in 86 years.
Martinez would leave to sign a four-year deal with the New York Mets following the 2004 season when the Red Sox were unable to come to terms on a new contract for their ace. Pedro’s departure is a memory that Red Sox fans would like to forget, but they will never forget that his last appearance with the team helped deliver a World Series title.
Almost perfect (August 29, 2000)
This isn’t typically how a pitcher wants to start out a game, but one of Pedro’s best performances came when he drilled lead-off hitter
Gerald Williamson the left hand to begin the game, then stood his ground as Williams charged the mound.
After the bench clearing brawl cleared, Martinez would go on to retire the next 24 batters. If not for plunking Williams to start the game, Pedro would have had a perfect game heading into the 9th inning. As it turned out, he would surrender a lead-off base hit to John Flaherty in the 9th to break up the no-hit bid, but the Red Sox still cruised to victory behind Martinez’s brilliant performance.
Pedro would have to settle for a one-hitter in which he struck out 13 Devil Rays, but his stellar performance was nearly overshadowed by the controversy of a wild night that saw 8 Devil Rays get ejected, including manager Larry Rothschild and two of his coaches.
Despite that many believed Pedro intentionally hit Williams, the Sox starter was not tossed from the game. That’s a good thing (unless you’re from Tampa Bay), because if he had been then it would have deprived us of one of the best performances of his career.
All-Star Game at Fenway (July 13, 1999)
Pedro earned the start when the All-Star Game came to Boston in 1999, and the Red Sox ace dazzled the hometown crowd with two dominant innings.
Martinez became the first pitcher in All-Star Game history to strike out the side in the first inning, retiring Barry Larkin, Larry Walker and Sammy Sosa in order. The second inning began with Martinez punching out Mark McGwire for his fourth straight strikeout before the streak ended with a base hit from Matt Williams. The inning would end with Martinez getting Jeff Bagwell to swing through his trademark changeup below the knees, followed by Williams being gunned down on the base paths for the strike-em-out, throw-em-out double-play.
The American League would go on to win the game, with Martinez earning the win and being rewarded with the All-Star Game MVP.
17-Strikeout gem at Yankee Stadium (September 10, 1999)
May 20, 2014; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Red Sox pitcher former pitcher Pedro Martinez shows his World Series rings prior to a game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports
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Martinez wasn’t phased a bit as he entered enemy territory to take on the rival Yankees. This was Pedro at his most dominant, as he mowed down 17 batters to set a new career-high in strikeouts. He allowed only one hit, a solo shot to Chili Davis, but was otherwise untouchable en route to a 3-1 victory.
This was arguably one of Martinez’s greatest starts, which came at the tail end of perhaps his most dominant season. Pedro finished the ’99 season with a league best 2.07 ERA and 313 strikeouts. He would end up finishing second in MVP voting behind Texas Rangers catcher Ivan Rodriguez when two writers left Pedro off their ballot because they refused to consider a pitcher for the award.
1999 ALDS, Game 5 (October 11, 1999)
A back injury forced Pedro out of Game 1 of the ALDS against the Cleveland Indians, putting Boston in an early hole that grew even deeper after they dropped the second game of the series. The Red Sox would battle back to force a decisive Game 5, but Martinez was not deemed healthy enough to start.
Bret Saberhagen took the mound to start the game in his place, but was lit up for 5 runs. Derek Lowe fared no better in relief, as the Indians tacked on 3 more. The score was tied at 8-8 after three innings when Pedro stormed out of the bullpen to deliver one of the gutsiest performances in postseason history.
Martinez shook off the the injury to toss six no-hit innings in relief to help the Red Sox advance to the ALCS. Pedro would later admit that he put his career in jeopardy by pitching through that injury, but he was willing to put everything on the line because it was the postseason.