Only Rain Can Slow Martinez

Intermittent showers wreaked havoc on the Angel-Red Sox game Saturday, causing two rain delays and at one point confusing umpires so much they instructed groundskeepers to cover the infield one minute and ordered them to roll up the tarpaulin the next.

But that was nothing compared to the one-man demolition derby that was Pedro Martinez. The Boston right-hander weathered 49 minutes of rain delays and reduced the Angel offense to a trickle in the Red Sox’s 6-1 victory before 32,519 in Fenway Park.

Martinez, a leading contender for the American League Cy Young Award, gave up seven singles and one run in eight innings in a thoroughly dominating performance, striking out eight and walking one to improve to 18-4.

Mixing a 96-mph fastball with cut fastballs, curves and changeups, Martinez humbled an Angel team whose lead in the West over Texas was reduced to two games, giving up one hit after a 43-minute rain delay in the middle of the fourth inning.

“He was nasty and abusive out there,” said Angel shortstop Gary DiSarcina, who is the league’s third-hardest batter to fan but struck out twice Saturday.

“I’ve never seen him throw so many breaking balls on the corners. He made me flat-out feel like a Little Leaguer out there. He was just incredible. He’s probably the best pitcher I’ve seen since I’ve been in the big leagues.”

According to Red Sox pitching charts, Martinez threw 31 fastballs, 22 for strikes; 25 curveballs, 14 for strikes; 26 cut fastballs, 16 for strikes, and 27 changeups, 17 for strikes.

“I had to do it like that because they’re a very good, balanced team that’s not easy to get out,” Martinez said. “They’re not like Texas; they’re not that overpowering. But they can hurt you just as much as the Rangers or Yankees or anyone. They’re one of the toughest teams I’ve faced.”

Martinez gave up three singles in the second, one by Troy Glaus that knocked in the Angel run, but allowed only one runner to reach third the rest of the game. Martinez retired the side in order in the fourth, fifth, seventh and eighth innings.

“I can’t say he’s another Randy Johnson, but maybe for a right-handed hitter he’s another Randy Johnson,” said Angel first baseman Darin Erstad, who bats left-handed.

“He has four very good pitches and great control, and any time he gets runners on base he cranks it up. Everything is harder, sharper. He’s one of the best pitchers out there.”

What impressed Angel Manager Terry Collins was that Martinez did not let the 43-minute delay in the fourth inning and a six-minute delay in the fifth bother him at all.

“You never know how guys will come out of rain delays, but Pedro came out throwing better,” Collins said. “We had a couple of opportunities to score early in the game, but when you get those you have to jump on them because he gets stronger as the game goes on.”

Added Red Sox shortstop Nomar Garciaparra: “It was like he got a second wind after that first rain delay. It was like he was ticked off at the rain and was taking it out on the weather.”

Angel starter Jack McDowell, who was rocked for five runs on six hits in three innings Saturday, was not surprised at Martinez’s post-rain reign.

“Everyone thinks it’s harder coming back after a rain delay, but that’s a fallacy,” McDowell said. “You’re already loose, and you don’t stiffen up unless you have an injury. I always liked pitching after a rain delay.”

McDowell gave up three hits, including doubles by Troy O’Leary and Darren Bragg, in a two-run second, and John Valentin’s solo homer and O’Leary’s opposite-field, two-run homer in the third.

Collins pulled McDowell before the bottom of the fourth in favor of Omar Olivares, who gave up one run on two hits in five impressive innings.

“I didn’t get ahead of batters, and when I did throw first-pitch strikes, I hung a few of them in the zone,” McDowell said. “I just didn’t have good command today.”