Martinez Moves Red Sox Closer

Three weeks ago, Boston’s Ramon Martinez was told he probably wouldn’t start again this season. Now he’s making a bid to start in the postseason.

Martinez gave up only one run and four hits over seven innings, as the Red Sox moved closer to the AL wild card with a 4-1 victory at home over the Baltimore Orioles on Saturday.

The victory ended Boston’s three-game losing streak and cut its magic number in the wild-card race to three over Oakland, which lost at Texas. The Red Sox also moved to within five of leader New York in the AL East.

After making his first start of the year Sept. 2, Martinez (1-1) was told by Manager Jimy Williams two days later that he probably wouldn’t start the rest of the way. On Sept. 14, he impressed with 4 2/3 innings in an emergency start in Cleveland, earning another opportunity.

“I was out for over a year,” Martinez said Saturday. “I did understand Jimy. We’re in a pennant race, but Jimy knows me when I was healthy. I talked to him and he said he’d try to get me in a game.”

He was a longshot to make the postseason staff at the beginning of the month, but now he’s a candidate to start Game 3 or 4 of a division series.

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Texas 10, Oakland 4--Todd Zeile hit a grand slam and John Burkett pitched seven innings to guarantee the Rangers at least a share of the AL West title with a victory over the Athletics at Arlington.

Oakland, which has lost three in a row and is 7 1/2 behind the Rangers, saw starter Kevin Appier get shelled for nine runs in 1 2/3 innings.

Detroit 11, Kansas City 3--Brad Ausmus had three hits, including a home run, and three runs batted in in the Tigers’ victory over the Royals at Detroit.

The game, part of the last series ever played at 87-year-old Tiger Stadium, drew 41,164. That ensures that, with two home games remaining, the Tigers will draw two million fans for the first time since 1988.

Tampa Bay 2, New York 1--Rolando Arrojo gave up four hits in seven innings to outpitch David Cone and give the Devil Rays their first ever victory at Yankee Stadium.

The second-year Devil Rays had lost their first nine games on the road against the Yankees and 17 of 18 overall to New York before breaking through behind Arrojo. After struggling early, Cone settled down, using a sharp slider to limit the Devil Rays to two runs on seven hits and strike out eight batters over six innings.

Cleveland 9, Toronto 6--Manny Ramirez drove in two runs to reach 159 RBIs, the most in the major leagues in 50 years, as the Indians defeated the Blue Jays at Toronto.

A day after driving in a career-high eight, Ramirez hit a two-run double down the left-field line in the first inning to give him the most RBIs since Ted Williams and Vern Stephens had 159 in 1949.

Chicago 13, Minnesota 4--Magglio Ordonez had four hits and five RBIs and Mike Sirotka pitched seven strong innings as the White Sox defeated the Twins at Minneapolis.

The White Sox, who managed only two hits against Joe Mays on Friday night, collected 18 hits against four Twins pitchers to halt a four-game losing streak.