Martinez will start Game 2

Pedro Martinez takes the mound against the Yankees after Red Sox lose game one

By Jack O'Connell of The Hartford Courant

NEW YORK — Pedro Martinez will pay his “daddy’’ a visit Wednesday night. It won’t take place at some bowling alley or a miniature golf course, but at Yankee Stadium in Game 2 of the ALCS.

After his 6-4 loss to the Yankees on Sept. 24 at Fenway Park, Martinez said, “What can I say? Just tip my hat and call the Yankees my daddy. I can’t find a way to beat them at this point. I’ve just got to say, ‘You guys beat me, not my team.’ ”

Martinez, whose record against the Yankees for the Red Sox is 9-10, said many other things that night, but the “daddy’’ term drew most of the attention. Martinez had nothing to say Tuesday as he refused to take part in the pre-game interview session normally reserved for the next game’s starting pitchers.

The Yankees’ Jon Lieber made an appearance just as Game 1 starters Curt Schilling of the Red Sox and the Yankees’ Mike Mussina did before Monday’s workouts.

A Yankees official said some of the team’s pitchers were grumbling about having to talk to the media while Martinez, who also boycotted the Division Series session, has been given a pass. According to the official, one Yankees pitcher said he hoped that Major League Baseball would discipline Martinez.

The Baseball Writers’ Association of America lodged an official protest, but MLB senior vice president Phyllis Merhige said the Red Sox right-hander would not be fined.

“Pedro was invited to appear in the interview room,’’ Merhige said. “It isn’t mandatory, and Major League Baseball has always taken the position that if someone doesn’t want to appear here, there is no point in forcing the issue. What’s the point of having somebody sit here stone-faced if he doesn’t want to be here?”

“He’s going to show up on the mound; that’s what I care about,’’ Red Sox Manager Terry Francona said. “Whether he talks to you guys or not, I know it probably frustrates you, you can talk to me. I don’t personally care. I want him to pitch really, really well.’’

Of the “daddy’’ remark, Francona said, “I thought he was a little frustrated that night. You see, so many times players say something after a game or they are half-dressed going somewhere in a hurry they say something that they probably wish 10 minutes later they would not have said. I guess I put more credence in his pitching the last 10 years that I do one sentence when he was a little frustrated.’’

Martinez allowed three earned runs and six hits in seven innings in winning Game 2 against the Angels in the ALDS. It was a good sign for Martinez following a September in which he was 2-4 with a 4.95 ERA.

“He was throwing the ball over the middle of the plate too much in September,” Francona said. “When he locates, when he’s throwing that cutter on the outside, to run that fastball in and staying out of the middle of the plate, he’s tough to beat, like he was against Anaheim.’’