Yankees Aced by Red Sox

Pedro Martinez put a stop to all those pesky questions about the New York Yankees the only way he could--by beating the Boston Red Sox’s biggest nemesis for the first time in more than a year.

“I consider myself a good enough pitcher that I can beat anybody,” the Red Sox ace said Wednesday night after striking out 13 in eight innings at Boston to lead the Red Sox to a 3-0 victory over the Yankees.

“The questions are so stupid,” he said after ending a personal five-game winless streak against the Yankees. “I don’t believe in rivalries. I don’t believe in curses. Wake up the damn Bambino, maybe I’ll drill him in the [behind].”

Martinez (7-1) gave up only four hits and a walk to lower his major league-leading earned-run average to 1.44. He allowed only one runner to reach second base--on an error, no less--to give the Red Sox their first victory over the Yankees in five games.

But the streak on everybody’s mind was the one that included Martinez’ first loss of the season last Thursday at New York.

“Pedro is Pedro. You can’t say anything negative about that guy,” Red Sox outfielder Carl Everett said. “To say, ‘The guy can’t beat the Yankees. The guy can’t beat the Yankees.’ It’s garbage. It shouldn’t even come out of anybody’s mouth.”

The difference this time wasn’t so much Martinez--or Mike Mussina, who gave up only four hits and struck out 11. Instead it was timely hitting by the Boston batters, who supported Martinez with more runs than they had scored in five of his six starts against the Yankees since he last beat them last May 28.

“Pedro was sensational. And Mike was pretty darn good too,” Yankee Manager Joe Torre said. “It’s frustrating, but when you’re up against Pedro, you can’t really allow anything. He never has a bad game.”

Chicago 4, Toronto 3--Jose Valentin scored on a crafty slide, capping a three-run rally by the White Sox in the eighth inning at Chicago.

Trailing, 3-1, the White Sox tied the score on Carlos Lee’s two-run single. With one out and runners on second and third, Magglio Ordonez hit a broken-bat chopper to third baseman Tony Batista, who caught the ball, took two steps and threw home in plenty of time.

But Valentin slid, ducking under catcher Alberto Castillo’s arms and brushing his foot across a corner of the plate before the tag.

“It’s not easy to run over a guy like that,” Valentin said. “I went down, went for a clean shot at home plate and got it. . . . We’re showing people right now that we’re not done yet.”

The victory was the sixth in seven games for the White Sox, who are scrambling to get back to .500. The Blue Jays have lost four of six.

Cleveland 8, Detroit 4--Jaret Wright won for the first time in more than a year and Jim Thome homered again for the Indians at Detroit.

Thome homered in all three games in the series.

Wright (1-0) won for the first time since May 11, 2000. In his third start since returning from shoulder surgery last August, he gave up one run on seven hits and a walk in five-plus innings.

Kansas City 11, Texas 2--Dee Brown’s three-run homer keyed a six-run first inning and Carlos Beltran added a three-run shot in the third at Arlington, Texas, to help the Royals end a five-game losing streak.

The Royals pounded Ranger starter Pat Mahomes (3-4) for seven runs and eight hits in one inning plus two batters. It was Mahomes’ shortest outing of his 59 starts.

Royal starter Dan Reichert (5-4) took advantage of the early support, giving up two runs and nine hits in 7 1/3 innings. Reichert struck out three and walked six.

Oakland 15, Tampa Bay 2--Johnny Damon hit a three-run home run and Jason Giambi had a long homer and three runs batted in at Oakland.

Miguel Tejada also hit a three-run homer as the Athletics pounded Albie Lopez (3-6), who lost his fifth consecutive decision, and the Devil Ray bullpen for 17 hits.

Mark Mulder (7-2) won his fifth consecutive decision despite giving up nine hits in five innings.

Seattle 12, Baltimore 5--David Bell homered and drove in three runs at Seattle to lead the Mariners to their seventh consecutive victory.