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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME LOG
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Roger vs. Pedro
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Roger Clemens and Pedro Martinez have faced each other four times in their careers. Below is a rundown of the four games, including Saturday's:
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Clemens
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Martinez
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Date
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10/16/99
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10/16/99
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IP
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2
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7
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H
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6
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2
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R
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5
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0
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BB
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2
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2
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SO
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2
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12
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Dec.
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loss
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win
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Red Sox win game, 13-1.
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Clemens
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Martinez
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Date
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5/28/00
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5/28/00
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IP
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9
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9
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H
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5
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4
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R
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2
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0
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BB
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0
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1
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SO
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13
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9
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Dec.
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loss
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win
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Red Sox win game, 2-0.
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Clemens
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Martinez
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Date
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6/14/00
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6/14/00
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IP
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1
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6
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H
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1
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6
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R
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0
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1
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BB
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2
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2
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SO
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0
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7
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Dec.
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no-dec.
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no-dec.
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Yankees win game, 2-1.
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Clemens
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Martinez
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Date
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4/14/01
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4/14/01
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IP
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6
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7
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H
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5
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6
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R
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2
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2
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BB
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4
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2
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SO
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5
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9
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Dec.
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no-dec.
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no-dec.
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Yankees win game, 3-2.
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BOSTON (AP) – Forget about Pedro and The Rocket. Alfonso Soriano
was the big name Saturday.
The rookie second baseman atoned for a fielding mistake that led
to two runs by hitting a ninth-inning solo homer that gave the New
York Yankees a 3-2 win over the Boston Red Sox.
"We expect the inexperienced stuff, but one of the things I
like about him is he doesn't crawl into a shell," Yankees manager
Joe Torre said. "He just goes out there and does great things for
us."
Soriano, a top prospect who began the season with just 10 major
league hits, stole the spotlight from Pedro Martinez and Roger
Clemens, who have eight Cy Young Awards between them.
They faced off for the fourth time, but neither was around at
the end. Clemens left after six innings trailing 2-0. Martinez
departed after seven with the score 2-2.
After Soriano's homer, Mariano Rivera pitched a perfect ninth
for his third save, making a winner of Mike Stanton (1-0). A day
earlier, Rivera allowed Manny Ramirez's two-run single in the 10th
that gave Boston a 3-2 win.
"You might beat me once, but you're not going to beat me
twice," Rivera said. "I'm coming at you and that's what I did."
The Red Sox went ahead 2-0 in the fourth on Trot Nixon's two-run
single after Soriano was late covering second on a potential
forceout grounder to shortstop Derek Jeter. Brian Daubach slid in
safely and Nixon followed with his two-out hit.
"Even at this stage in my career, I still think I can get you
four outs in an inning," Clemens said. "They've picked me up too
many times for me to worry about that."
Soriano came up through the New York system as a shortstop but
wasn't about to replace Jeter. And the Yankees had to find a spot
for him when he led the majors with 32 spring-training hits.
So they put him at second and sent Chuck Knoblauch and his
throwing problems to left field.
Soriano doesn't expect to have problems at second base much
longer.
"I was a little bit confused about whether Jeter was going to
throw to first," Soriano said. "I felt very happy (about the
homer). I wasn't sure if it was going to clear the wall."
It just did, hitting the top of the 37-foot high Green Monster
in left field and bouncing into the screen behind it.
|  | | Alfonso Soriano, left, is greeted at home by Scott Brosius after his ninth-inning homer, which was the difference in the game. |
"It was a strike down in the zone," said loser Pete Schourek
(0-1). "I thought it was off the wall."
Soriano, who extended his hitting streak to seven games, also
was instrumental in tying the game in the seventh against Martinez.
"It was a hard day to pitch, windy, dry. I never felt
comfortable with the breaking pitch," Martinez said. "Very few
times are you going to see me with a lead (and) give it up."
Jorge Posada's double and Tino Martinez's single put runners at
first and third. Soriano hit a forceout grounder to third, scoring
Posada. Then Soriano stole second and third and scored the tying
run on Pedro Martinez's wild pitch.
"He's aggressive," Jeter said. "When he makes mistakes he
doesn't let it bother him."
The game met expectations at the start as Martinez and Clemens
each pitched three scoreless innings.
Then Clemens was victimized again by Nixon, whose two-run homer
last May 28 gave Boston a 2-0 win as both Clemens and Martinez
pitched complete games in New York.
Martinez weakened as Saturday's game went on. He retired the
first nine batters, six on strikeouts, and allowed one runner
through four innings. But he let seven Yankees reach base in the
next three innings.
"I'm only human," Martinez said. "I can't always do it."
He struck out nine and allowed six hits and two walks. Clemens
struck out five, allowed five hits and four walks and threw a wild
pitch.
In their four meetings, Martinez is 2-0 and Clemens is 0-2.
Last June 14 in New York, Martinez pitched six innings and
Clemens left with a groin injury after one. The Yankees won 2-1.
Martinez won 13-1 in the AL championship series Oct. 16, 1999, and
2-0 last May 28.
Game notes
The game drew 33,396, the fifth sellout in Boston's eight
home games and the second straight. Sunday's and Monday's games
against the Yankees have been sold out for a long time. ... David
Justice turned 35 Saturday. He went 0-for-4. ... Two-time Boston
Marathon winner Johnny Kelley, 93, wore a Red Sox cap backward at a
breakfast held by race organizers Saturday. ... Yankees 3B Scott
Brosius moved to center field after Luis Sojo pinch hit for Clay
Bellinger in the seventh. It was Brosius' first outfield appearance
since playing left field last Aug. 27 and his first stint in center
since Aug. 30, 1997. In his career, he's started 120 games in the
outfield, 54 in center.
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Klapisch: Yankees' young Soriano upstages pitching duel
RECAPS
NY Yankees 3
Boston 2
Detroit 1
Cleveland 0
Toronto 5
Kansas City 4
Baltimore 6
Tampa Bay 5
Texas 9
Oakland 8
Minnesota 9
Chi. White Sox 4
Seattle 2
Anaheim 1
Cincinnati 1
NY Mets 0
Houston 7
St. Louis 4
Chicago Cubs 7
Pittsburgh 6
Colorado 9
Arizona 8
Philadelphia 2
Atlanta 1
Milwaukee 11
San Francisco 6
Montreal 8
Florida 2
San Diego 5
Los Angeles 4
AUDIO/VIDEO
 ESPN's Peter Gammons sits down with Joe Torre to discuss Alfonso Soriano's big day against Boston.
wav: 857 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
Pedro Martinez remained optimistic after Boston's loss to the Yankees.
wav: 194 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
Roger Clemens knew the team with the fewest mistakes would win on Saturday.
wav: 176 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
Pete Schourek says it will take some time to figure out Alfonso Soriano.
wav: 116 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
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