The Cleveland Indians vs. Boston Red Sox final game was tied 8-8, and then Boston manager Jimy Williams crossed his fingers and sent Pedro Martínez to the mound in the fourth inning. Boston fans welcomed him in with a long standing ovation. The American League’s Cy Young sure winner pitched six hitless innings Monday night key to carry the Red Sox to a 12-8 win and to the American League Championship Series. When Martínez was called in, the game looked like it would be a repeat of the earlier 23-7 slugfest. The US press described the first three innings of the game as "batting practice" for both teams. Cleveland’s Charles Nagy and Boston’s Bret Saberhagen, both working on only three days’ rest, had nothing in the ball. Then Pedro Martínez entered the game. "Pedro obviously was the big difference in this game tonight," said Cleveland manager Mike Hargrove. "There was a lot of lumber being swung early in the game and the difference was Pedro came in and shut us down." Martinez was the best pitcher in baseball this season, leading the major leagues with a 23-4 record and 2.07 ERA while striking out a career-high 313 batters. Troy O’Leary supplied the offense for the Red Sox. In the seventh, he snapped the 8-8 tie with a three-homer. Given the cushion, Martinez took the Red Sox home from there, pitching six no-hitter innings for Boston’s first win in a postseason series since 1986. Martinez had left game one of the series with a strained back muscle, and Boston was all but counted out. Boston lost the first two games, winning the next three to win the division series last night over Cleveland in the best-of-five series. The Red Sox will play a best-of-seven series against their ancient rivals, the New York Yankees starting Wednesday night at Yankee Stadium.
