Martinez Shows His Stuff

On one of the coldest nights of his career, Pedro Martinez bounced back from his worst outing ever.

Martinez gave up two hits in seven innings -- allowing only one runner to reach second base -- then retreated to the warmth of the Fenway Park clubhouse as the Boston Red Sox won their fourth straight game, 6-0 over the Tampa Bay Devil Rays on Thursday at Fenway Park.

“The conditions weren’t favorable for anybody throwing the baseball,” Boston catcher Jason Varitek said. “You’re talking about one of the most competitive pitchers in baseball.”

Several players wore hoods under their caps that left only their eyes and noses exposed to temperatures that dropped from a game-time of 33 degrees.

The wind was blowing at 15 mph when Martinez threw his first pitch to Carl Crawford, who flied out to center. By the ninth inning, the temperature was 31 with a wind chill of 21.

“Tonight was the coldest I think I’ve played in,” said Boston’s Kevin Millar, who drove in two runs with his fourth homer and a single during a four-run sixth. “Once that wind kicks up, it bites you in the ear.”

Despite that, Martinez was eager to come back from last Saturday’s outing in which he gave up 10 runs -- all earned -- and nine hits in 4 1/3 innings of a 13-6 loss to Baltimore. He was booed as he left the field.

Perhaps irked by that reaction, he declined to speak to reporters after Thursday’s game.

In his other three appearances, Martinez (1-1) has given up one earned run in 22 innings.