Pedro Martinez Throws Out First Pitch at Red Sox’ Season Opener

by

Apr 4, 2010

Pedro Martinez Throws Out First Pitch at Red Sox' Season Opener BOSTON — Pedro Martinez threw
out the ceremonial first pitch before the Boston Red Sox hosted the New
York Yankees in the first game of the season Sunday night.

The former Red Sox ace emerged from
behind an American flag covering nearly the entire left-field wall and
walked slowly toward the mound, smiling and waving at cheering fans.
They booed lightly when Martinez shook hands with Yankees third baseman
Alex Rodriguez
in short left field.

Martinez threw his pitch high and
inside to Boston catcher Jason Varitek. Then the pitcher walked behind
home plate and embraced 90-year-old Johnny Pesky, a former player, coach
and manager of the Red Sox, who was seated on a chair on the field
wearing the team's uniform.

The 38-year-old Martinez is a free
agent after pitching last year for the Philadelphia Phillies, who signed
him July 15. He was 5-1 with a 3.63 ERA in the regular season.

His last appearance came in the sixth
and final game of the World Series, a 7-3 win by the Yankees that
clinched their 27th championship. Martinez, who also lost Game 2 despite
a solid performance, gave up four runs over four innings in the finale.

In the last of his seven seasons with
the Red Sox in 2004, he was part of the team that won the club's first
championship since 1918. From 1998 through 2004, the right-hander was
117-37 with a 2.52 ERA and two AL Cy Young Awards with Boston.

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