‘Bad Day’ for Martinez Is Worse for Blue Jays

Pedro Martinez called it a bad day.

“I wasn’t consistent at all,” he said after giving up three hits in seven innings Wednesday night as the Boston Red Sox defeated the Toronto Blue Jays, 8-0, at Toronto.

Martinez, who pitched a two-hitter against the Baltimore Orioles last week, improved to 6-1 with an American League-leading 1.01 earned-run average. He struck out six, walked two and hit two batters.

“I was little bit erratic,” he said. “I couldn’t spot my fastball, and it would take off on me. I would throw a couple of good ones, but then I would struggle with it.”

Martinez has given up one earned run in his last 32 innings. Helped by three double plays, he combined with relievers Brian Rose and Tim Young on a four-hitter.

“It didn’t look like he had a bad day to me,” Toronto’s Alex Gonzalez said. “He kept us off balance all night. He did a really good job.”

New York 9, Chicago 4--Bernie Williams hit two homers at New York, including a grand slam, as the Yankees ended a five-game losing streak.

Manager Joe Torre juggled his lineup after the Yankees scored only 11 runs in their longest losing streak since last May, moving Williams to the second spot and Shane Spencer to cleanup.

Both players delivered: Williams hit a solo homer in the fourth inning and the eighth grand slam of his career in the fifth, while Spencer went three for five.

Texas 11, Tampa Bay 6--Frank Catalanotto had a career-high five hits and Ivan Rodriguez went three for four at Arlington, Texas, as the Rangers completed a three-game sweep.

Catalanotto, who made his first start since April 21, is the third player in Ranger history with eight consecutive hits and has reached base 11 times in a row. He was activated from the disabled list Monday after recovering from a groin injury.

Cleveland 7, Detroit 2--Bartolo Colon used his 99-mph fastball to overpower the Tigers for 12 strikeouts in seven innings, and Sandy Alomar hit a three-run homer at Cleveland.

Colon (4-1) gave up only six hits--five singles--and made only one mistake, giving up a solo homer to Juan Gonzalez in the second.

Colon walked two in his second start since returning from the disabled list.

Seattle 4, Minnesota 0--Unbeaten John Halama pitched a four-hitter at Seattle as the Mariners completed a three-game sweep.

Halama (5-0), who was part of the trade of Randy Johnson to the Houston Astros on July 31, 1998, did not walk a batter and struck out two. He faced only 29 batters in pitching the second shutout of his career.

Kansas City 4, Oakland 3--Carlos Beltran, who broke up Omar Olivares’ no-hit bid with a fifth-inning double, capped the Royals’ four-run sixth inning with a run-scoring single at Oakland.

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Best Of The Day

BATTING

* Fred McGriff, Tampa Bay: 2 for 3, 2 homers, 5 RBIs in 11-6 loss to Texas.

* Bernie Williams, New York: 2 for 5, slam, 5 RBIs in 9-4 victory over Chicago.

PITCHING

* John Halama, Seattle: 9 innings, 4 hits, no walks in 4-0 victory over Minnesota.

* Roger Clemens, New York: 7 innings, 4 hits, 2 runs, no walks, 9 strikeouts in 9-4 victory over Chicago.

* Pedro Martinez, Boston: 7 innings, 3 hits, 2 walks, 6 strikeouts in 8-0 victory over Toronto.

* Bartolo Colon, Cleveland: 7 innings, 6 hits, 2 run, 2 walks, 12 strikeouts in 7-2 victory over Detroit.