Boston’s Martinez in Time for 17th Victory

Pedro Martinez was punished for arriving late to work Saturday.

Then he was rewarded.

Martinez, who was scratched from his scheduled start at Boston, picked up his major league-leading 17th win in his first relief appearance in more than five years in the Red Sox’s 13-2 win over Seattle.

He admitted he had violated a Red Sox rule that isn’t always enforced requiring starting pitchers to be at the ballpark two hours before game time.

Martinez said he was late because he was getting ready for the start at home with his physical therapist. At first, he fully blamed himself, then he called Manager Jimy Williams “stubborn.�

“There’s nothing going on,� Martinez said. “I’m a little upset with myself, that’s it.�

But when asked why he was late, he became vocal about Williams.

“How come I was late? I was doing something at home,� Martinez said. “I was doing some things for me and my team, and Jimy couldn’t take it today. He was stubborn. I think we could have kept it in the clubhouse. I already talked to my teammates. I messed up.�

Williams’ account differed.

“He was late and we had to make a decision to start another pitcher,� he said.

That emergency starter was a bewildered Bryce Florio. He gave up one run and four hits in 4 2/3 innings, but didn’t qualify for the win because he didn’t last five innings. Rheal Cormier got the final out of the fifth.

“I kind of looked around and Pedro wasn’t here,� Florie said. “They told me about 3:25 [the game began at 4:05], ‘You’re starting.’ �

When Martinez made his way toward the bullpen, Florie was surprised again.

“[Pitching coach] Joe [Kerrigan] said, ‘Don’t worry about him. You’re starting,’ � Florie said. “[Pedro] just sat down. He didn’t say anything to me.�

Boston’s Brian Daubach went five for five, with a homer, four singles and six RBIs. Daubach had five RBIs in Friday’s 11-6 victory over the Mariners.

Jose Offerman’s two-run homer capped a five-run fourth inning for Boston, which won for the eighth time in its last 10 games.

Martinez entered the game with Boston holding a 7-1 lead.

Said Williams: “Why bring him in? Because we used all the relievers last night.�

Oakland 13, Toronto 5--A.J. Hinch hit a grand slam during an eight-run first inning for the Athletics, who won at Toronto.

In a half-inning that took 31 minutes, the A’s sent 13 men to the plate. Jason Giambi had an RBI single, Matt Stairs had a two-run hit and Eric Chavez added an RBI single before the first grand slam of Hinch’s career.

In his shortest outing ever, Joey Hamilton (5-7) gave up eight runs--seven earned--on four hits in only one-third of an inning.

Minnesota 6, New York 3--Yogi Berra and Don Larsen were at Yankee Stadium again, but David Cone couldn’t reprise his performance of four weeks ago.

Cone had pitched a perfect game then, but was pounded for five runs in five innings Saturday in a loss to the Twins.

Cone (11-7) gave up four unearned runs in the second inning and a solo homer by Doug Mientkiewicz in the fourth to lose for the third time in four decisions since his perfect game July 18 against Montreal.

Cleveland 7, Baltimore 1--Making his first start in more than a year, Steve Karsay pitched five solid innings for his first win as a starter in more than two years and gave the Indians their fifth win in a row.

Jim Thome hit a grand slam in the first inning at Cleveland to back Karsay (9-1), who gave up three hits in five innings after earning the start largely because Dwight Gooden and Jaret Wright are on the disabled list.

Tampa Bay 11, Kansas City 4--Ryan Rupe won for the third time in four starts and Bubba Trammell hit a two-run homer for the Devil Rays in a win at Kansas City.

Rupe (7-6) struck out four and gave up seven hits in 6 2/3 innings to win his second decision in a row.