He’s a One-Hit Wonder

As far as the Baltimore Orioles are concerned, Pedro Martinez already is back to peak form.

The three-time Cy Young Award winner made his second consecutive exceptional start, limiting the Orioles to one hit in seven innings as the Boston Red Sox avoided a three-game sweep with a 7-0 victory Thursday at Baltimore.

Martinez (3-0) had a season-high 10 strikeouts and held Baltimore hitless until Gary Matthews Jr. lined a clean single to right with two out in the sixth. He walked one and hit a batter.

In his previous outing on April 19, Martinez gave up only one hit in eight innings against Kansas City.

“Pedro has done this to a lot of other clubs,” Baltimore Manager Mike Hargrove said. “Good pitching will stop good hitting, and Pedro was awfully good today.”

Limited to 18 starts last year because of tendinitis in his right shoulder, Martinez has given up only four earned runs in his last four starts after being tagged for seven earned runs in three innings against Toronto on opening day, dropping his ERA from 21.00 to 3.38.

Oakland 6, New York 2--Miguel Tejada hit a three-run homer, Greg Myers had a two-run homer and Frank Menechino had an RBI double to lead the Athletics at Oakland.

Barry Zito (1-1) gave up one run and five hits in seven innings to defeat Mike Mussina (3-1), who gave up six runs and seven hits in 52/3 innings, striking out nine.

Jason Giambi went hitless in three at-bats against Zito after going four for eight in the first two games of the series.

Texas 11, Toronto 9--Pinch-hitter Herbert Perry tied the score with a single off Dan Plesac (1-2), and Alex Rodriguez followed with a go-ahead double at Arlington, Texas, as the Rangers, which earlier had trailed, 6-0, overcame a 9-8 deficit in the eighth.

Rodriguez drove in three runs for the Rangers, who also got a two-run homer from Carl Everett in a seven-run fifth inning.

Chicago 6, Cleveland 3--Kenny Lofton had three RBIs, and Jon Garland (3-1) gave up three runs and four hits in 52/3 innings at Cleveland as the White Sox won their third in a row over the Indians.

After sweeping the Indians last week at home, the White Sox won the last three games of the four-game series at Jacobs Field and are 6-1 this season against their AL Central rival.

Minnesota 6, Tampa Bay 2--A.J. Pierzynski hit a tying single with one out in the ninth inning and pinch-hitter Doug Mientkiewicz followed with a two-run double to lead the Twins at St. Petersburg, Fla.

Jacque Jones added a two-run homer off Esteban Yan (1-1), who had converted 10 consecutive save chances since wasting a lead against Minnesota last Aug. 12.