BASEBALL: Pedro Martinez made his World Series debut a memorable one yesterday morning by helping the Red Sox to a 4-1 win over the St Louis Cardinals and move Boston one win away from capturing their first World Series since 1918.
Martinez allowed just three hits over seven innings with six strikeouts and two walks while retiring the last 14 batters he faced.
Boston leads the best-of-seven series 3-0 and barring a complete collapse - similar to the one the New York Yankees had in losing to the Red Sox in the American League championship series - could end their dreaded "Curse of the Bambino".
"I just used my experience and threw strikes and got them swinging," Martinez said. "My team-mates did the work for me, did the dirty work, played some defence. I'm really happy and lucky to be one out of one in the World Series."
Manager Terry Francona wasn't surprised by Martinez's performance. "He (Martinez) has had some history now of being pretty good," said Francona. "This wasn't his first good game.
"I thought early on he was having a bit of a tough time with his command, getting a feel for the game. But once he got out of that one inning he got in a groove and started pitching like he can pitch."
Martinez is a free agent at the end of the season and his future has been the subject of intense speculation.
