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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME LOG
BOSTON (AP) -- The Boston Red Sox opened the second half of the
season feeling lucky for a change.
|  | | Pedro Martinez, making his first start in 18 days, struck out 10 and allowed two runs in seven innings. |
Brian Daubach led the way, hitting a two-out, two-run double in the ninth inning that gave Boston a 4-3 win over the New York Mets on Thursday night in Pedro Martinez's return from the disabled
list.
But Daubach never would have gotten the chance if shortstop Melvin Mora didn't muff what could have been a game-ending double-play. And if his double caromed off the right-field wall
differently, Jose Offerman might not have scored the game-winner.
"We didn't get too many breaks in the first half," Daubach
said. "It's a great way to start the second half."
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Piazza back after beaning
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BOSTON (AP) -- Mike Piazza went back to work Thursday night
against another intimidating pitcher. In his first game since being hit in the head by Roger Clemens'
fastball Saturday, the New York Mets catcher faced hard-throwing
Boston Red Sox ace Pedro Martinez.
Martinez's first pitch to Piazza was high and in, but Piazza
didn't flinch. "Without a doubt, it's good just to get back out there," said
Piazza, who singled in the eighth inning and threw out a runner in
the Mets' 4-3 loss to the Red Sox. "I feel lucky there wasn't more
severe effects. It's time to move on."
Piazza and Martinez last squared off in June 1998, and exchanged
words through the papers after Martinez plunked Piazza in the hand.
Piazza said that confrontation wasn't on his mind. "That was two years ago," Piazza said. "I'm not going to go up
there and feel like I have anything to look out for."
He ended up grounding to third in his first at-bat, flew out
twice to right, and singled in the eighth. The eighth-inning hit
was misplayed by Carl Everett, allowing Edgardo Alfonzo to score
from first to give the Mets a 3-2 lead.
Piazza's beaning has provided ample fodder for the New York
media in recent days. First, Piazza called a news conference and accused Clemens of
throwing at his head, a charge the New York Yankees pitcher has denied.
The saga continued when Yankees owner George Steinbrenner
charged that the Mets were using the incident to distract attention
from the fact that they dropped the first three games of the series
with the Yankees.
"I don't even know if it's worth a response," Piazza said of
Steinbrenner's comments. "It's a very unusual opinion. Personally
I don't care what people think. I said what I had to say."
Mets manager Bobby Valentine said only those who have been hit
in the head by a pitch should be talking. "You shouldn't have anything to say because you don't know
anything about that," he said.
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The win was Boston's first when trailing after eight innings
this year. It also improved the Red Sox to 8-16 in one-run games,
and was a positive start to the second half after a disappointing
first half that's been marred by poor play and injuries.
Daubach's hit on a 2-2 pitch from Armando Benitez (2-4) came
after Manny Alexander ran for pinch-hitter Scott Hatteberg, who
walked. Jose Offerman followed with a grounder that Mora called a "perfect" double-play ball.
Except Mora bobbled it and everyone was safe.
"I didn't keep my eyes on the ball," he said. "That's why I dropped it."
Two batters later, Daubach's hit over Derek Bell's head scored
Offerman from first.
"It hit the bottom of the wall and did one of those pinball
things," Bell said. "If it comes off the pad, I would have had a
chance. It hit at the bottom of the pad and just died."
Rich Garces (4-0) got the win with 1 1/3 innings of scoreless
relief.
Benitez blew his fourth save in 23 chances.
Martinez left his first start in 18 days with a no-decision
after striking out 10 and allowing two runs and five hits in seven
innings.
The AL Cy Young Award winner was sidelined with a strained left
rib cage muscle following his June 25 start against Toronto, a
no-decision in which he allowed three home runs.
Martinez felt like he had good command, and threw with no
discomfort.
"No pain," Martinez said. "Thank God, no. I felt a lot
better. I hope I can continue to feel the same way."
Boston scored just two runs for their ace, continuing a recent
trend of anemic offense when Martinez is on the mound. His
league-leading ERA increased from 1.44 to 1.51.
Mets catcher Mike Piazza delivered a key hit in his first game back after being beaned by Roger Clemens.
Piazza's single with two outs in the eighth inning off Garces was misplayed by center fielder Carl Everett, allowing Edgardo Alfonzo to score from first. Alfonzo singled off reliever Rheal Cormier.
Piazza was knocked out of last Saturday's game with the New York
Yankees and forced to miss the All-Star game after he was hit in
the head by Clemens' fastball.
Piazza said everything felt normal Thursday.
"Without a doubt, it's good just to get back out there," he said. "I feel lucky there wasn't more severe effects from it."
The Mets took an early lead off Martinez when Jay Payton
followed Todd Zeile's two-out double with a double down the
third-base line in the second.
Boston went ahead in the sixth on Morgan Burkhart's two-run
homer following Everett's single, but Payton tied the game 2-2 with
a solo shot into the left-field screen in the seventh.
Game notes
Offerman was thrown out stealing in the first inning,
making him 0-for-8 in attempted steals this season. ... After his
double in the second, Payton has a hit in 16 of 19 games ... When
Everett scored on Burkhart's home run, it was the first run Mets
starter Bobby J. Jones gave up in 14 career innings at Fenway Park.
... Burkhart's second home run of the season was his first career
shot at Fenway.
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ALSO SEE
Baseball Scoreboard
NY Mets Clubhouse
Boston Clubhouse
RECAPS
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AUDIO/VIDEO
 Brian Daubach hopes Thursday's win is the spark the Red Sox need.
wav: 92 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
Returning from injury, Pedro Martinez felt very good about his performance.
wav: 99 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
Manager Jimy Williams felt Pedro set the tone of the game despite getting the no-decision.
wav: 135 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
Boston's Brian Daubach discusses his game-winning double.
wav: 878 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
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