Martinez

BOSTON -- To find the only time the Orioles were at .500, you have to go back to the second game of the season. Back to early April, when Heathcliff Slocumb was a heat-seeker in a flammable bullpen. When a shelling of Juan Guzman wiped out the good vibes from Opening Day, and the club's only winning record to this point.So many of the names have changed since then. But the Orioles' existence remains below sea level.Ramon Martinez wouldn't let them see light yesterday. Returning from shoulder surgery that cost him more than a full season, he made short work of the Orioles while Boston was playing long ball with Doug Linton in the Red Sox's 4-1 victory at Fenway Park.

Pedro Martinez's summer of dominance was rewarded yesterday when the Boston Red Sox ace was unanimously named recipient of the AL Cy Young Award. Leading a lapped field, the Orioles' Mike Mussina finished a distant second.Martinez produced one of the most overpowering seasons of the game's explosive postmodern era by going 23-4 with a 2.07 ERA and 313 strikeouts in 213 1/3 innings. Within a climate of relentless slugging, Martinez silenced American League hitters (he gave up just nine homers)

BOSTON -- It's his town, his year, his moment. If there were a face on tonight's All-Star Game at Fenway Park, it would be Pedro Martinez's face.Baseball should get so lucky every year.Martinez, the Red Sox ace who will take a 15-3 record to the mound tonight as the American League starter, embodies all that's still good about the game."He's a guy I have total respect for," the Indians' Jim Thome said yesterday. "He's probably the toughest competitor I have ever faced."It's hard to decide what's more remarkable, the fact that Martinez is a little guy accomplishing such big things, or that no one ever mentions the $90 million contract he signed with the Red Sox before last season.

Though unwilling to estimate a number of games, Orioles center fielder Brady Anderson said yesterday that he'll be out "for a while" because of a strained right quadriceps.Asked if he might be finished for the season, which has five games remaining after last night's 9-5 loss, Anderson said, "I don't know. It depends if Pedro [Martinez] pitches again.""I'm sure it'll be a couple of days," said manager Ray Miller. "He might be able to come off the bench."Anderson served as the designated hitter in Boston on Monday because he wanted to face Martinez, a lock to win the league's Cy Young Award and a contender for Most Valuable Player.

BOSTON -- Another chance for the Orioles to reach .500 was trumped last night by another start for Boston's Pedro Martinez. Talk about your impenetrable roadblocks.No longer satisfied just to collect Cy Young awards, Martinez made his latest pitch for the American League's MVP trophy and moved the Red Sox within a game of clinching a playoff berth by dealing the Orioles a 5-3 loss before 33,477 at Fenway Park. In the process, he infuriated manager Ray Miller, whose expletive-filled comments were aimed at the slender right-hander and had as much velocity as one of Martinez's fastballs.

The Atlanta Braves are still America's baseball team, according to the Harris Poll. The Braves came out No. 1 for the sixth straight year when fans were asked to name their favorite baseball team.The New York Yankees were second, followed by the Chicago Cubs in a telephone poll of 1,007 adults between May 21 and 28.The Braves were designated as their favorite team by 16 percent of those surveyed, while the Yankees were picked by 12 percent. The Cubs were the favorites of seven percent.Interleague baseball again won overwhelming approval in the survey, even increasing its huge approval rating of the previous year.

NEW YORK -- Moments after slumping Tino Martinez hit a dramatic grand slam to break open the first game of the 94th World Series, fans in the first deck at Yankee Stadium unfurled a professionally printed banner that read:"God's a Yankee fan, too."That remains to be seen, but the Yankees can thank a couple of their previously unlucky stars for last night's 9-6 victory, which came not with help from above, but with the assistance of the opposing manager and -- depending on who you talk to -- maybe the home plate umpire.

Boss Hog has always been something of a family affair. It began in 1989 as a collaboration between Cristina Martinez and her husband, Jon Spencer, and has remained a joint project ever since.But these days, things are downright domestic for the band. Because for its current tour, Martinez and Spencer will be traveling with their 8-month-old son, Charlie."We already did a little weekend outing in Boston and Providence," says Martinez, from the couple's home in Manhattan. "Two days worked out pretty well."

WIMBLEDON, England -- Before this year, Britain's Samantha Smith had never won a match at Wimbledon.But yesterday, Smith pulled off a major third-round upset, defeating 1994 champion and No. 8 seed Conchita Martinez, 2-6, 6-3, 7-5.RTC "I've got a lot more confidence and self-belief that I can go out there and win these matches," Smith said.She showed that confidence against Martinez, beating her experienced opponent on virtually all the tough points and driving her right out of Wimbledon.

Tino Martinez returned to the New York Yankees' lineup last night, and for the Orioles' sake, not a moment too soon.The Yankees were angry enough when Martinez missed seven of the next eight games after getting drilled between the shoulder blades by Armando Benitez.Judging from George Steinbrenner's remarks yesterday, their outrage only would have grown if Benitez had returned before the All-Star first baseman."I am not happy at all," the Yankees' owner said. "I said at the time, as Gilbert and Sullivan would say, the punishment must fit the crime."

They are the two newest faces in the Orioles' organization. Cesar Izturis is a quiet, unassuming, slick-fielding shortstop who has agreed in principle to a two-year deal that will be finalized next week if he passes a team physical. Ryan Freel is a hard-charging Cuban-American infielder-outfielder who was obtained Tuesday in the Ramon Hernandez trade with the Cincinnati Reds and likes talking and joking almost as much as he loves baseball. Their personalities differ, but they share an important trait, according to MASN announcer Buck Martinez.

Raymundo Martinez just wanted a new watch. His plan was to pick one out at Wal-Mart, then ride his bike home to change for a gathering with other summer exchange students. He got the watch, but never made it to the party. Martinez, an architecture student from the Dominican Republic, was biking along eastbound U.S. 50 outside Ocean City when he was struck by a taxicab, suffering catastrophic injuries. His skull and facial bones were so badly damaged that one doctor said they were like a bowl of crushed ice. His left eye had burst and his lungs were punctured.

A cruise ship rescued three Baltimore-area men last week after their sailboat was nearly destroyed by a fierce storm off the North Carolina coast, a spokeswoman for Royal Caribbean Cruises said yesterday. The three men, identified as Eugene Cole, 62, Steven Bridges, 47, and Nathaniel Pyle, 21, were sailing from Baltimore to Key West, Fla., according to Royal Caribbean Cruises spokeswoman Cynthia Martinez. The trio hit heavy seas and 110-knot winds a week into their journey, on Feb. 6, about 150 miles off the coast of Cape Hatteras.

GERALD MAURICE MARTINEZ born June 13, 1928, died October 13, 2007, husband of Florence I. Martinez, father of eleven children, grandfather of 26, great-grandfather of 16, first American born Martinez, brother of three sisters, only son of Miguel Marcelino Mauricio Castillo Martinez and Dorothy Ann Cross. Offset hot typesetter Union Printer by trade. Billards, marbles, crabbing, stock car racing, country music, wrestling, his wife and his grandchildren were his love. Graveside services will be held Thursday, October 18 at 1:15 P.M., in Cedar Hill Cemetery.

On September 11, 2007, CASTELIA HARRIS MARTINEZ. Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, September 15, at New Life Inspirational Church, 2621 Oswego Avenue at 10 a.m. Inquire (410) 664-6800.

Orioles left-hander Erik Bedard had his best start of the season last week. The same goes for Florida Marlins starter Dontrelle Willis. The San Diego Padres' Jake Peavy has had a string of good ones recently. So has the Minnesota Twins' Johan Santana. And the Oakland Athletics' Huston Street and Houston Astros' Brad Lidge threw perfect innings. That barely audible sound of relief is coming from the Orioles' broadcast booth. Buck Martinez, Orioles TV commentator and manager of Team USA's World Baseball Classic entry, has studied each of the aforementioned pitchers with a keen eye. "I have been watching them all," Martinez said.

WASHINGTON -- Sometimes, well-placed fastballs speak louder than words. New York Mets ace Pedro Martinez has been known to throw his share directly at the enemy, sending the message: "I own that plate." Washington Nationals slugger Jose Guillen has been known to absorb his share of hit-by-pitches, and then relay his own message with steps toward the mound and a menacing glare that said: "I can hurt you." The two collided last week, when Martinez twice plunked Guillen, and the Nationals outfielder reacted by walking toward the mound with his bat in hand before the potential dustup was calmed.

WASHINGTON -- Sometimes, well-placed fastballs speak louder than words. New York Mets ace Pedro Martinez has been known to throw his share directly at the enemy, sending the message: "I own that plate." Washington Nationals slugger Jose Guillen has been known to absorb his share of hit-by-pitches, and then relay his own message with steps toward the mound and a menacing glare that says: "I can hurt you." The two collided last week, when Martinez twice plunked Guillen, and the Nationals outfielder reacted by walking toward the mound with his bat in hand before the potential dustup was calmed.

On March 21, 2006, ROBERT J. MARTINEZ, beloved husband of the late Eileen Conway Martinez; beloved father of Robert J. Martinez II and Sheila Cassidy; grandfather of Mark Cassidy and dear great-grandfather of Nicole Cassidy. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday 10 A.M. at St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church, 257 S. Law Street, Aberdeen, MD. Friends may call at the Tarring-Cargo Funeral Home, 333 S. Parke Street on Thursday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 P.M. Interment Harford Memorial Gardens.

On February 12, 2006, SOPHIE (nee Alonso); beloved wife of the late Jose Martinez, Sr.; devoted mother of Joe Martinez, Jr.; dear grandmother of Kate and Christina Martinez. Prayer Service will be held at the family owned LILLY & ZEILER INC. FUNERAL HOME, 1901 Eastern Avenue on Saturday at 10 A.M. Interment in Oak Lawn Cemetery. Friends may call on Friday from 7 to 9 P.M. only.