Martinez Embraces Timely Effort by Ortiz

Pedro Martinez was heading to the mound for the top of the ninth inning when he hugged the teammate who had just given him the lead.

The Boston Red Sox ace was thankful for David Ortiz’s tie-breaking single in the two-run eighth, and Ortiz had no doubt Martinez would finish a 3-2 victory over the visiting Tampa Bay Devil Rays on Tuesday night.

“I wasn’t surprised,” Ortiz said. “This guy, he’s a soldier, and you’ve got to beat him up big time for him to give up.”

Martinez (13-4) pitched a six-hitter in his third complete game this season. It was his 100th victory in six seasons with the Red Sox.

Martinez struck out six and walked one for his third victory in 12 days. He allowed the leadoff batter to reach base in four innings and stranded runners at third in the sixth and seventh innings.

“Truthfully, I thought Pedro was hittable. I’ve seen him have better stuff,” Tampa Bay Manager Lou Piniella said.

The Red Sox, who won their third in a row, took a 2 1/2-game lead in the wild-card race over Seattle and stayed 5 1/2 games behind New York in the American League East.

New York 6, Baltimore 3 -- Roger Clemens (15-9) moved into a tie for 17th place on the career victory list with Hoss Radbourn at 308, giving up three runs and seven hits in seven innings at Baltimore.

Texas 10, Seattle 5 -- Alex Rodriguez hit his major league-leading 44th homer -- his fifth in six games -- and rookie Laynce Nix homered twice at Arlington, Texas.

Kansas City 12, Cleveland 8 -- Joe Randa and Rondell White each hit three-run homers for the Royals, who scored five runs in the fourth after the Indians had cut the lead to 6-4 at Cleveland.

Toronto 9, Detroit 6 -- Frank Catalanotto drove in the go-ahead run with a single in a four-run seventh at Detroit, and the Tigers (38-112) moved to within five of the AL record for losses, set by the 1916 Philadelphia Athletics.