| | BOSTON -- All along, the Red Sox figured that their playoff fate would come down to this: a great start needed from Martinez.
What they couldn't have known, of course, is that it would be Ramon, and not Pedro, to whom they would turn to extend their postseason.
|  | | Ramon Martinez will be looking to recapture some of his past glory Saturday. |
Facing a second consecutive Division Series elimination at the hands of the Cleveland Indians, it's the elder Martinez, and not the more celebrated Pedro, who must come to Boston's rescue.
Pedro, who blanked the Indians for four innings in Game 1 before developing a mid-back strain, can only hope to play catch Saturday. He's had little physical activity since Wednesday and continues to take anti-inflammatory medication to quiet the condition.
But he will watch from the dugout with a mixture of admiration and trepidation as Ramon makes just his fifth start for the Red Sox, having been sidelined for 15 months following surgery to repair a torn rotator cuff in his right shoulder.
"Every game, to me, when he's out there, I'm excited," Pedro said following the Red Sox's off-day workout at Fenway Park on Friday. "If I see my brother competing, I'm always excited. Because I cannot be in the same game to help him, I get nervous. I want him to do so well, I get nervous."
For years, Ramon, 31, was the more accomplished of the two, becoming a 20-game winner at the age of 22 for the Los Angeles Dodgers. In 10 seasons in Los Angeles, Ramon Martinez compiled a winning percentage of .615 (123-77), while young-apprentice Pedro pitched on the same staff, mostly out of the bullpen.
Following the 1993 season, the Dodgers dealt Pedro Martinez to Montreal, where he slowly established himself as one of the best young pitchers in the game, culminating with the 1997 season in which he won the Cy Young Award.
Dealt to Boston after that year, Pedro won 19 games last season before compiling a 23-4 mark this year for the Red Sox.
Meanwhile, Ramon underwent surgery last June to repair his shoulder and was cut loose by the Dodgers. Eager to become his brother's teammate again, Ramon chose Boston over several other suitors this spring, and continued his long rehabilitation.
After a series of minor-league starts, Martinez made his debut for Boston on Sept. 2. While there were flashes of his past brilliance, he struggled with his command. Two days later, embroiled in a wild-card race with Oakland, manager Jimy Williams reluctantly told Ramon that, because of the nature of the race, he couldn't guarantee the Dominican native another start.
Undaunted, Ramon continued to work on the side and when an opening materialized after Pat Rapp had to leave the team to be with his pregnant wife, Martinez took full advantage.
In three more September starts, Martinez was 2-0 with just nine hits and four runs allowed over 17 2/3 innings.
"I didn't know if there was another chance," admitted Ramon. "But they gave me the opportunity to pitch and I took advantage of that, and I became better and better and feel better every time."
All of which constitutes a remarkable comeback for Ramon, who as recently as May had to curtail a side session after five minutes because of discomfort in his shoulder.
"When you think of where he's come and where he is now," Boston pitching coach Joe Kerrigan said, "it's quite a tribute to the man."
Kerrigan remembers being Montreal's pitching coach while Ramon was in his prime in Los Angeles and peeking at the upcoming pitching matchups, hoping that the Expos could manage to avoid facing the elder Martinez.
"Going into Dodger Stadium," Kerrigan said, "you just didn't feel good. (As an opponent) you knew you were going to be fortunate to win a game that he was pitching."
Admittedly, Martinez is not fully recovered from the surgery. While his fastball used to consistently measure 93-95 mph, Ramon now settles for the 89-91 range.
"But," added Kerrigan, "his command is pretty close. And his movement and change is the same. He still understands the art of pitching. He understands that every time you throw the ball, you're making a pitch, not just throwing it. You're making a pitch to produce positive results, to produce an out."
Their mound excellence aside, Ramon and Pedro couldn't be more dissimilar. While Pedro is playful, outgoing and occasionally hot-tempered, Ramon is quiet, withdrawn and dignified.
"We're a little different -- that's all I can say," said Ramon, a smile creasing his face.
On Saturday, Pedro -- still hopeful that he can recover in time for Game 5 on Monday -- will be full of nervous energy but full of confidence that his brother will get the Red Sox halfway to Monday.
"There's no better time for him to show up than this time," Pedro said.
Last week, before he was sidelined, Pedro was asked -- assuming both brothers were operating at 100 percent good health -- who qualified as the best pitcher.
"He is," Pedro said of his big brother. "Why do I say that? He taught me everything I know. I don't think the student can ever be better than the teacher."
Saturday, with their playoff lives on the line, the Red Sox would gladly settle for something close.
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