Red Sox to Open Against Orioles

The first game of the 2004 season on American soil features the debut of two managers, the unveiling of the Baltimore Orioles’ overhauled lineup and the start of another quest by the Boston Red Sox to win the World Series.

All this is meaningful, yet the most intriguing aspect of tonight’s opener is the anticipation surrounding the performance of a pitcher who is no stranger to such fanfare: Red Sox ace Pedro Martinez.

When Martinez last pitched in a game that counted, he yielded a tying, two-run double to Jorge Posada in the eighth inning of Game 7 of the American League championship series Oct. 16 against the New York Yankees.

The Yankees won, 6-5, in the 11th. Boston Manager Grady Little’s decision to leave Martinez in the game probably cost him his job, and now it’s up to Terry Francona to decide how best to use Martinez.

That will depend on the pitcher’s health and his effectiveness. Some say Martinez has lost velocity on his fastball -- he had a 6.75 earned-run average in five spring training starts -- but he insists that things will be different now that the games count.

“I’m fine,” Martinez said after his last exhibition start, a three-inning struggle against Toronto. “I got my pitches in. It’s spring training. The results don’t matter.”

When it mattered last season, Martinez was excellent. He went 14-4 with a 2.22 ERA while limiting opposing hitters to a league-low .215 average.

This season, he heads a staff improved by the addition of Curt Schilling and closer Keith Foulke.

If Martinez holds up his end, the Red Sox figure to at least challenge the Yankees, who opened the season in Tokyo by splitting a two-game series with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays last week.

The Orioles hope to test Martinez with an improved lineup that features Miguel Tejada, Rafael Palmeiro and Javy Lopez in the 3-4-5 spots.

The game will also mark the debut of Manager Lee Mazzilli and the first opening-day start for right-hander Sidney Ponson. He won’t have to face shortstop Nomar Garciaparra or right fielder Trot Nixon, both of whom are injured.