It was the Yankees' pitching staff that had promised fearful performances, but through the first two games, New York starters have kept Boston scoreless through the first six innings of each game, out-dueling aces Curt Schilling and Martinez.
"The only thing that concerned me about our starting pitching is that we didn't have the numbers we've had in the past," Yankees Manager Joe Torre said. "These two games were huge. Especially tonight. Curt didn't have his best stuff yesterday, but Pedro was Pedro. To beat him when he had his stuff like this, it really gives us a lot of confidence."
Boston's Johnny Damon shatters his bat on a pitch from Yankees closer Mariano Rivera in the eighth inning. Rivera finishes a 3-1 victory over Boston in Game 2 to give the Yankees a 2-0 series lead.
(Julie Jacobson - AP)
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| _____ From The Post _____
• The Red Sox come back from three games down to shock the Yankees and advance to the World Series.
• Boston ends years of frustration by ousting the Yankees.
• Thomas Boswell: Red Sox fans have waited generations for this.
• It's been a wild swing of emotions for Boston fans.
_____ On Our Site _____
• Game 7 box score
• ALCS, NLCS Photos
• Highlights of the Sox-Yanks rivalry
• How Red Sox, Yankees compare
• Talk about the ALCS.
_____ Live Online _____
• The Post's Jorge Arangure Jr. on the rivalry. Read the transcript.
_____ Schedule, Results _____
• Game 1: Yankees 10, Red Sox 7
• Game 2: Yankees 3, Red Sox 1
• Game 3: Yankees 19, Red Sox 8
• Game 4: Red Sox 6, Yanks 4 (12)
• Game 5: Red Sox 5, Yanks 4 (14)
• Game 6: Red Sox 4, Yankees 2
• Game 7: Red Sox 10, Yankees 3
• Red Sox win series, 4-3
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Martinez's journey from the bullpen prior to the game had ended with a hand slap from Schilling, who had abandoned his position on the top step of the dugout, arms folded, leaning against the railing. It was Schilling's ankle injury that had forced Boston to lean hard on Martinez in this game.
Yankees fans did not relent for a second in taunting Martinez. He heard the chorus immediately after stepping out of the dugout on his way to the mound for the first inning. As the chants continued, Yankees fans asking, "Who's your daddy?" Martinez pointed toward the sky. The fans continued chanting. Martinez again pointed to the sky, toward God.
"My biggest daddy is the one who brought me out there and brought me from the mango tree onto the biggest stage," he said. "I don't like to brag about myself, I don't like to talk about myself, but they did make me feel important."
Martinez's first five pitches were balls. After a first-pitch ball to Alex Rodriguez, Martinez stood on the mound and held the baseball in his hand, seemingly unable to let it go. Catcher Jason Varitek rose from his crouch behind the plate and approached Martinez. The two conferred for several moments. His next pitch was another ball. Three pitches later, Martinez hit Rodriguez on the forearm.
With men on first and second, Gary Sheffield lined a single to center, scoring Jeter for New York's first run. Before recording the first out, Varitek again had to consult Martinez on the mound. Though Martinez looked beaten, the Yankees could not break him. Martinez ended the Yankees' threat in the first by striking out Hideki Matsui and Bernie Williams and forcing a groundout from Jorge Posada.
The Yankees put two runners on base against Martinez in the second inning, but could not push another run through. Martinez promised a strong start in this raucous atmosphere, and at times his promise held. But not for all night.
