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 Monday, October 11
Saberhagen to start Game 5
 
Associated Press

 BOSTON -- There's only one comeback that could top what the Boston Red Sox have done this October -- Pedro Martinez taking the mound in Game 5 against Cleveland.

Bret Saberhagen
Saberhagen

Pedro Martinez
Martinez

Martinez, who pulled himself out of the series opener with a strained back muscle, said he wants to pitch in Monday night's decisive game at Jacobs Field even if it's just in relief.

"I've got to wait," Martinez said after the Red Sox evened the series at 2-2 on Sunday night with a 23-7 thrashing of Cleveland. "If the results are from one day to the other like today, I have no doubts whatsoever that I'll be in there."

On Saturday, Martinez could hardly play a game of catch as he tested the sore muscle under his right shoulder blade for the first time since leaving after four innings of Game 1. He came away discouraged, and it appeared baseball's most dominant pitcher might have to call it a season.

But he said his shoulder improved dramatically Sunday and came away from a pregame workout encouraged he had gotten much better.

"It's still tingling, but you never pitch perfect," said Martinez, who went 23-4 during the regular season. "I just hope the way I threw for eight minutes today I can throw for eight more from the mound."

The Red Sox will start Bret Saberhagen in Game 5 against Cleveland's Charles Nagy, reprising the matchup of Game 2 pitchers.

Saberhagen lasted just 2 2-3 innings as Cleveland pounded Boston 11-1 to take a 2-0 lead in the series.

"I didn't throw that many innings the last time out," he said. "So hopefully tomorrow maybe I won't be feeling as good and I'll be able to calm down a little bit and stay within myself and make some better pitches."

Saberhagen knows that with the season on the line, Martinez might try to get the Red Sox to the ALCS.

"Pedro is very determined to pitch," Saberhagen said. "So I would guess he is going to pitch sometime soon."

Red Sox fans hope it's tonight. They began chanting, "We want Pedro, We want Pedro" in the fifth inning of Sunday night's blowout.

As it happens, the Indians couldn't have a better pitcher starting Game 5 than Nagy.

The right-hander with the self-deprecating sense of humor and wicked sinker is 10-1 in his career against Boston with a 3-0 mark in the postseason.

"Charlie is a big-game pitcher," reliever Steve Karsay said. "I've been saying that all year and now we've got him going in the biggest game of the year."

Nagy's seven solid innings in Game 2 went overlooked when the Indians pounded the Red Sox 11-1. Now, his performance will be scrutinized pitch by pitch.

Like Bartolo Colon, shelled in Game 4, Nagy will be pitching on three days' rest. He said the short turnaround might have some advantages.

"I'm a different type of pitcher than Bartolo," he said. "He's a power pitcher so when he gets more rest, he's stronger out there. Myself, I'm a sinker-ball guy. That's what they say, anyway. The less rest you have, the better your sinker's going to be. We'll see."

 


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Red Sox vs. Indians series page

Red Sox force Game 5 after scoring record 23 runs