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Moriarty9 · 04-07-2009, 10:00 AM

Pedro struggles in Tampa win
K's nine but gives up six runs in six innings
April 3, 2001

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Pedro Martinez looked like a guy who had won the last two Cy Young awards for the first couple innings but then found himself watching baserunners scamper along the basepaths.

Martinez struck out four of the first five batters he faced on Opening Day before a two-out error by Tampa Bay Devil Rays shortstop Tony Graffanino led to what would become a two-run inning. The Toronto Blue Jays went on to tack on some more runs with a two-run home run by Carlos Delgado in the fifth inning and a solo shot by Rob Ryan in the sixth inning. Martinez left the game after six innings, giving up six runs, four earned, on eight hits and one walk, striking out nine Toronto batters.

"He looked sharp out there early on but a couple of defensive miscues seemed to kind of knock him off his game," Devil Rays manager Christian O'Neal said. "He pitched well and what he did up until that first error, that doesn't bode well for the competition."

Graffanino made up for the error in the home half of that same inning, hitting a Grand Slam off Toronto starter Kris Benson. Rookie thirdbaseman Aubrey Huff tacked on a three-run shot off Benson in the fifth inning, chasing the starter from the game. Benson gave up eight runs, six earned, on nine hits and two walks, striking out three, over 4 1/3 innings.

Charles Johnson, 0-for-4 in the ninth spot, was the only Devil Ray in the lineup who did not get at least one hit in the team's 8-6 win. Blue Jays shortstop Kevin Elster, 0-for-4 in the sixth spot, was the only Toronto starter not to get a basehit.

Both teams' bullpens pitched very well. Kelvim Escobar pitched the final 3 2/3 innings for Toronto, holding Tampa Bay to two hits and one walk while not giving up any runs. Byung-Hyun Kim, Randy Wolf, and Paul Quantrill worked an inning each in relief of Martinez, giving up a total of two hits and no walks, striking out three, in three shutout innings of relief. Quantrill recorded his first save of the season.

04-07-2009, 10:00 AM	#219 (permalink)
Moriarty9 All Star Starter Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 1,858 Thanks: 10 Thanked 3x in 3 posts	Pedro struggles in Tampa win K's nine but gives up six runs in six innings April 3, 2001 ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Pedro Martinez looked like a guy who had won the last two Cy Young awards for the first couple innings but then found himself watching baserunners scamper along the basepaths. Martinez struck out four of the first five batters he faced on Opening Day before a two-out error by Tampa Bay Devil Rays shortstop Tony Graffanino led to what would become a two-run inning. The Toronto Blue Jays went on to tack on some more runs with a two-run home run by Carlos Delgado in the fifth inning and a solo shot by Rob Ryan in the sixth inning. Martinez left the game after six innings, giving up six runs, four earned, on eight hits and one walk, striking out nine Toronto batters. "He looked sharp out there early on but a couple of defensive miscues seemed to kind of knock him off his game," Devil Rays manager Christian O'Neal said. "He pitched well and what he did up until that first error, that doesn't bode well for the competition." Graffanino made up for the error in the home half of that same inning, hitting a Grand Slam off Toronto starter Kris Benson. Rookie thirdbaseman Aubrey Huff tacked on a three-run shot off Benson in the fifth inning, chasing the starter from the game. Benson gave up eight runs, six earned, on nine hits and two walks, striking out three, over 4 1/3 innings. Charles Johnson, 0-for-4 in the ninth spot, was the only Devil Ray in the lineup who did not get at least one hit in the team's 8-6 win. Blue Jays shortstop Kevin Elster, 0-for-4 in the sixth spot, was the only Toronto starter not to get a basehit. Both teams' bullpens pitched very well. Kelvim Escobar pitched the final 3 2/3 innings for Toronto, holding Tampa Bay to two hits and one walk while not giving up any runs. Byung-Hyun Kim, Randy Wolf, and Paul Quantrill worked an inning each in relief of Martinez, giving up a total of two hits and no walks, striking out three, in three shutout innings of relief. Quantrill recorded his first save of the season.