Red-Hot Start for Martinez: 11 Strikeouts

Pedro Martinez made an impressive American League debut, striking out 11 in seven innings and leading the Boston Red Sox past the Oakland Athletics, 2-0, Wednesday night at Oakland in the teams’ season opener.

Last year’s National League Cy Young award winner with Montreal, Martinez gave up only three hits. It was exactly the kind of performance the Red Sox expected from the ace, whom they got in a trade and then signed to a six-year, $75-million contract.

Martinez, who had 10 or more strikeouts 18 times last season, retired the first 11 batters before giving up a clean single by rookie Ben Grieve. He walked two.

Former Oakland great Dennis Eckersley and Tom Gordon finished up the combined four-hitter. Gordon got four outs for the save.

Baltimore 10, Kansas City 1--The Orioles bounced back from a rocky opening-day performance by reaching several milestones in routing the Royals at Baltimore.

Cal Ripken hit his eighth career grand slam, Scott Erickson earned his 100th career win and Lenny Webster had his first two-homer game.

Ray Miller’s first win as manager of the Orioles was particularly sweet because it followed a 4-1 loss to the Royals on Tuesday.

“Lenny’s two home runs, Scotty’s 100th and my first. That’s real nice,” Miller said. “Joe Carter told me before the game, ‘Why don’t you sit back and relax tonight? We’ll make it easy for you.”’

The Orioles did just that. Ripken’s grand slam capped a five-run first inning that enabled Baltimore to blow past a Kansas City team looking to go 2-0 for the first time since 1979.

“They came out with a little kill in their eyes today. They sent a message,” Royal Manager Tony Muser said.

Baltimore also got a solo homer from Jeffrey Hammonds, but all that offense wasn’t really needed because Erickson was extremely sharp in his 31st career complete game.

The right-hander gave up four hits, struck out five and walked one to improve his major league record to 100-83. The sinkerballer got 18 groundball outs and the only run against him came on a homer by Dean Palmer in the second.

Toronto 3, Minnesota 2--Roger Clemens started 1998 right where he left off in 1997. Coming off his fourth American League Cy Young Award, Clemens gave up only two hits in seven innings at Toronto and pitched the Blue Jays past the Twins in their season opener.

A crowd of 41,387 witnessed Tim Johnson’s debut victory as a major league manager.

Jose Cruz Jr. hit a two-run homer in the second inning and an RBI triple in the fifth, and also singled. Randy Myers, Toronto’s top off-season acquisition, pitched a scoreless ninth for a save.

Clemens (1-0), who won 21 games last year, gave up a bloop single by Pat Meares and a double by Paul Molitor. He permitted one run, struck out three and walked three.

Tampa Bay 11, Detroit 8--The expansion Tampa Bay Devil Rays earned their first victory on the strength of Fred McGriff’s four-RBI performance at St. Petersburg, Fla.

McGriff doubled home a run in the first inning, added an RBI single in a four-run fourth and capped the night with a two-run single in the eighth as the Devil Rays rebounded from an 11-6 opening-day loss to the Tigers.

Cuban defector Rolando Arrojo, making his major league debut, worked six innings for the win, giving up four runs on eight hits. The 29-year-old right-hander struck out six, walked one and his throwing error allowed a Tigers’ run in the first.

Detroit starter Brian Moehler lasted 3 2/3 innings and was tagged for six runs and 10 hits. The Devil Rays collected 18 hits against six Detroit pitchers.

Arrojo defected from Cuba in July 1996 and spent nine months in Costa Rica before being declared a free agent and receiving a $7-million bonus to sign with the Devil Rays.

BESTS OF THE DAY

BATTING

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Player Team Performance Team’s Result Lenny Webster Baltimore 3 for 4, two homers Win Cal Ripken Baltimore 1 for 4, grand slam Win Fred McGriff Tampa Bay 3 for 4, double, 4 RBIs Win

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PITCHING

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Player Team Performance Team’s Result Pedro Martinez Boston 3 hits, 11 strikouts Win Scott Erickson Baltimore 9 innings, 4 hits, 1 run Win Roger Clemens Toronto 7 innings, 2 hits, 1 run Win

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