Martinez Roughed Up in Boston Homecoming

Pedro Martinez was touched by the fans and tagged by the Boston Red Sox in his return to Fenway Park.

Martinez got a standing ovation and then gave up four runs in the first inning and four more in the third before leaving as baseball’s hottest team went on to a 10-2 victory over the New York Mets on Wednesday.

“It’s not disappointing at all,” said Martinez after his worst effort in two seasons with the Mets. “The reception I got, I will always remember that as one of the best moments of my life.”

Boston extended its winning streak to 11 games -- all against NL teams and its longest in 11 years.

Martinez (7-4) gave up eight runs, six earned, and said he was caught up in the moment. He gave up seven hits, two walks and struck out one. He is 2-4 in his last 11 starts after winning his first five.

Boston’s Josh Beckett yielded two runs and five hits with seven strikeouts and one walk in 7 2/3 innings.

New York Yankees 4, Atlanta 3 -- Alex Rodriguez turned boos to cheers with a two-run homer in the 12th inning, rallying the Yankees at New York.

After Marcus Giles put Atlanta ahead with a solo shot in the top half, Rodriguez -- in a two-for-20 slump -- finally delivered the big hit Yankees fans had been seeking.

San Diego 8, Oakland 1 -- Mike Cameron homered for the fourth time in five games and Mike Piazza also connected at San Diego to help the Padres beat the AL West leaders for the second straight night while taking a 1 1/2 -game lead in the NL West.

Clay Hensley (5-6) and three relievers combined on a six-hitter.

Detroit 5, Houston 0 -- Justin Verlander (10-4) pitched three-hit ball for eight innings at Detroit, striking out seven and walking none in winning his third straight start for the Tigers. Detroit has won seven in a row.

Chicago White Sox 4, Pittsburgh 3 -- The Pirates set a team record with their 13th consecutive loss, blowing a three-run lead in the seventh inning at Pittsburgh.

Juan Uribe’s bases-loaded triple keyed Chicago’s four-run comeback.

Cincinnati 7, Kansas City 2 -- Ken Griffey Jr. hit the last of the Reds’ four home runs in a victory at Cincinnati.

Felipe Lopez, Rich Aurilia and Scott Hatteberg all homered in the third inning. Griffey homered in the seventh.

St. Louis 5, Cleveland 4 -- Jhonny Peralta’s throwing error, one of two by the Indians in the ninth inning, helped the host Cardinals end an eight-game losing streak.

Catcher Kelly Shoppach, who entered in a double switch in the eighth, dropped So Taguchi’s pop fly to start the inning for a two-base error and Aaron Miles’ RBI double with one out tied the score. Miles scored on David Eckstein’s routine two-out grounder, when Peralta’s throw in the dirt eluded first baseman Victor Martinez.

Baltimore 7-12, Philadelphia 4-5 -- Ramon Hernandez homered and drove in four runs to key a 20-hit outburst that helped Kris Benson (9-5) lead the Orioles to a doubleheader sweep at Baltimore.

In the first game, Erik Bedard (8-6) gave up five hits over seven shutout innings.

Hernandez also homered in the opener and had six RBIs for the day.

Tampa Bay 3, Florida 1 -- Casey Fossum (3-3) allowed one run and three hits to help the Devil Rays end the Marlins’ eight-game home winning streak.

Trailing by one run in the sixth inning, the Marlins loaded the bases against Jae Seo with one out. But Mike Jacobs flew out to left and Damon Hollins threw out Jeremy Hermida at the plate.

San Francisco 5, Texas 1 -- Ray Durham hit a grand slam at San Francisco to give Noah Lowry (3-5) all the run support he needed to win for only the second time in nine starts.

The Giants put outfielder Moises Alou on the 15-day disabled list because of a strained lower back, with the move retroactive to June 18.

Toronto 6, Washington 1 -- Ted Lilly (8-7) pitched six shutout innings to win his third consecutive start and Frank Catalanotto drove in three runs at Toronto.

Seattle 10, Arizona 3 -- Felix Hernandez (8-7) gave up seven hits and two runs in seven innings and Jeremy Reed homered at Phoenix to send the Diamondbacks to their 19 loss in their last last 22 games.

NATIONAL LEAGUE

Chicago 6, Milwaukee 3 -- Derrek Lee homered for the first time since sitting out 59 games because of a broken wrist and Ronny Cedeno blooped a go-ahead double during a five-run eighth inning that helped the Cubs end a five-game losing streak overall and a nine-game streak at Wrigley Field.