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Red Sox Memories: Boston’s rich history with the immaculate inning

By Mark Chekares

BOSTON, MA - JUNE 10: Chris Sale #41 of the Boston Red Sox pitches against the Texas Rangers in the first inning at Fenway Park on June 10, 2019 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Kathryn Riley /Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - JUNE 10: Chris Sale #41 of the Boston Red Sox pitches against the Texas Rangers in the first inning at Fenway Park on June 10, 2019 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Kathryn Riley /Getty Images) /
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Pitcher Pedro Martinez #45 of the Boston Red Sox in action during a spring training game against the Minnesota Twins at City of Palms Park in Fort Myers, Florida. The Red Sox defeated the Twins 11-2.
Pitcher Pedro Martinez #45 of the Boston Red Sox in action during a spring training game against the Minnesota Twins at City of Palms Park in Fort Myers, Florida. The Red Sox defeated the Twins 11-2. /

Pedro Brings it Home

On May 18, 2002, Pedro Martinez stepped onto the mound at Fenway Park in the first inning to face a formidable Seattle Mariners lineup. The Mariners were fresh off a 116 win season, and leadoff hitter Ichiro Suzuki was having another monster year, batting .350 with a preposterous .429 OBP.

If Pedro was going to beat the M’s, he had to keep the pesky Ichiro off the base paths. Martinez did just that in the first, K’ing him on three pitches. He then got Mark McLemore and Ruben Sierra to do the same.

And just like that, Pedro had an immaculate inning under his belt and the legend of the Red Sox hurler would grow that much more.

I can’t even imagine facing a fresh Pedro in his prime. Those guys had no chance. Just think about getting into the batter’s box and a young Pedro is staring you down from the mound, no thank you.

Surprisingly, Pedro never threw his no-hitter. Unsurprisingly, he became the first Boston player in American League history to accomplish the immaculate inning.

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