CLEVELAND -- Pedro's still perfect against the Indians. And perfectly despised by them.
Pedro Martinez, who has owned Cleveland's soul the past two years, remained unbeaten against the Indians on Sunday by taking a shutout into the eighth inning before being ejected for hitting Roberto Alomar in Boston's 2-1 victory.Martinez may still be unbeaten in his career against the Indians, but he did lose something on Sunday -- respect.
"He's the best pitcher in the game," Alomar said. "We know he's going to pitch inside. But the other stuff, he went too far."
Many of the Indians thought Martinez was intentionally throwing at Einar Diaz, who had doubled twice off him, in the seventh inning. They became even more upset in the eighth when Martinez stayed in the Boston dugout after Cleveland's Charles Nagy hit Jose Offerman, emptying both dugouts and bullpens.
"It was obvious he was throwing at Einar," said Omar Vizquel. "That was pretty (cheap). Then he doesn't come out and fight. That's pretty chicken."
Martinez (5-0) allowed four hits, walked three and struck out 10 to win his 13th straight decision.
He also improved 7-0 against the Indians, whom he beat in Game 5 of the division series last year when he got off the trainer's table with a bad back to pitch six hitless innings of relief.
He realizes he's not a popular person in Cleveland, and he doesn't care.
"I'm just going to do my job, and if that's going to cost people liking me, that's fine with me," he said. "What? I'm not allowed to pitch inside?"
In the seventh, Martinez twice came high and tight to Diaz, once knocking the Indians catcher down. Diaz stared out at the mound before getting back in the batter's box but continued to exchange dirty looks with Martinez after striking out.
"That was not about throwing inside," Alomar said. "We were upset with him for throwing at Einar, but after he struck him out, he didn't have to keep staring at him all the way to the dugout. That's no respect."
When Offerman came up in Boston's eighth, Nagy (1-4) hit him in the side and players spilled out of both benches and dugouts. Martinez remained in the dugout at first but finally came out after several of the Indians urged him onto the field.