Martinez Returns but Red Sox Lose

The Boston Red Sox gained a lot more than they lost Sunday night.

The Texas Rangers defeated Boston, 5-4, at Arlington, Texas, but three-time Cy Young Award-winner Pedro Martinez was back on the mound for the first time in two months.

“I feel good. My arm reacted good,” Martinez said after throwing 71 pitches in four innings. “I got my work done and I was back on the mound. The rest is overrated.”

Martinez, recovering from a sore right shoulder, was on a 75-pitch count in his first start since June 26.

The Rangers got three runs--two earned--and six hits against Martinez, but the score was tied, 3-3, when Tim Wakefield relieved to start the fifth.

“This was a real good first step. I liked his delivery,” Boston Manager Joe Kerrigan said. “He kept things under control and didn’t try to overthrow. The big key is he came out healthy.”

Mike Lamb hit a tiebreaking two-run single for the Rangers in the sixth.

The Red Sox dropped to three games behind Oakland in the AL wild-card race, but remained four games behind New York in the AL East.

The game started about 18 hours after the teams finished an 18-inning marathon won by the Rangers, 8-7.

Bill Haselman drove in the winning run when Boston failed to turn a double play in the 18th inning in a game that took 6 hours 35 minutes--the longest in the majors this season.

On Sunday, the Rangers rallied after squandering a 3-0 lead against Martinez, who struck out four and walked one.

“Especially with my control, I was really satisfied. I had more than I expected,” Martinez said. “I felt comfortable after having been away from the game so long. My body felt good and my arm felt a little heavy, but that’s not bad.”

Cleveland 4, Seattle 3--Kenny Lofton hit a two-out, two-run single off Arthur Rhodes in the ninth at Seattle.

Rhodes, ejected Saturday when he got angry after being ordered by umpires to remove his earrings, relieved with the bases loaded and two outs.

The Mariners, who had won five in a row, loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the ninth. But Ichiro Suzuki grounded into a force play at the plate--ending his 21-game hitting streak--and Mark McLemore grounded out against Bob Wickman.

Oakland 7, Detroit 6--Miguel Tejada drove in three runs, and Terrence Long hit a tiebreaking single in the seventh to help the Athletics overcome a 5-0 deficit at Oakland.

Matt Perisho (2-3) walked Olmedo Saenz and hit Jason Giambi with a pitch in the seventh and Jermaine Dye singled home the tying run.

Minnesota 7, Kansas City 2--The Twins turned four walks and five stolen bases into a five-run fifth inning at Kansas City, Mo.

Minnesota, which had lost 10 of 14 going into the series, completed a three-game sweep and extended the Royals’ losing streak to six games.

Chicago 3, Tampa Bay 2--Jose Canseco and Magglio Ordonez hit solo home runs at St. Petersburg, Fla.

Canseco broke a 2-2 tie in the sixth against Bobby Seay (0-1) with his 12th homer this season, No. 458 in his career.

Toronto 5, Baltimore 1--Rookie Brandon Lyon (3-2) pitched six innings of three-hit ball and the Blue Jays completed a three-game sweep at Baltimore.

Melvin Mora’s sixth-inning home run ended Toronto’s 26-inning scoreless streak--one short of the team record.