Martinez, Red Sox Earn Some Key Distinctions

Pedro Martinez had 12 strikeouts to give him a career-high 312, leading the Boston Red Sox to a 5-3 victory over the Baltimore Orioles on Monday night at Boston, guaranteeing the Red Sox at least a tie for the American League wild-card berth.

Boston holds a six-game lead over the idle Oakland Athletics with six games remaining.

The game featured a bench-clearing staredown in the seventh inning after Brady Anderson, who had been hit by a pitch in the fifth inning, brushed by Martinez (23-4) as he scored on a passed ball.

Martinez glared at Anderson as he walked back to the dugout. Players from the dugouts and bullpens emptied onto the field.

After the game, Oriole Manager Ray Miller unleashed on Martinez with an expletive-filled tirade.

“He didn’t cover home plate, or he would have gotten knocked into the stands,” Miller said. “He starts things and he hides behind people.”

Martinez gave up one earned run and six hits, walking none. He struck out at least 10 batters for the eighth consecutive time.

Tampa Bay 10, New York 6--The Yankees made three errors and allowed all of the Devil Ray runs to score with two outs at New York.

Fred McGriff and Bubba Trammell homered and Dave Martinez drove in three runs for Tampa Bay.

Texas 3, Seattle 2--Lee Stevens drove in the go-ahead run with an eighth-inning sacrifice fly at Arlington, Texas as the AL West champion Rangers won their fourth consecutive game.

Chicago 3, Minnesota 1--Brook Fordyce hit a two-run double in the ninth inning for the White Sox at Minneapolis.

Around the League

New Mariner chairman Howard Lincoln said he offered Ken Griffey Jr. and Alex Rodriguez contracts that would make them the best-paid players in baseball. Lincoln did not give any figures. . . . Red Sox shortstop Nomar Garciaparra, who leads the league with a .356 batting average, sat out Monday night’s game against the Orioles because of a bruised right wrist. . . . Alan Symonette, 55, was named the arbitrator who will decide the dispute between baseball umpires and owners over 22 umpires whose resignations were accepted.