Sports: Trachsel keeps focus on game, not Martinez

Trachsel keeps focus on game, not Martinez

By MARC TOPKIN

BOSTON -- Knowing he was going to be matched up with the dominating Pedro Martinez on Saturday, Steve Trachsel made a point to not make a big deal about it.

"I'm too busy concentrating on what I have to do," he said.

While some pitchers might get inspired by the opportunity to pitch against one of the game's elite and others might get intimidated into thinking they have to be nearly perfect, Trachsel said he treated Saturday's game as just another start.

The results, though, were anything but ordinary. Trachsel struck out a career-high 11 while scattering three hits in Tampa Bay's 1-0 victory. It was the Rays' first complete game since Rolando Arrojo went nine against Cleveland on Aug. 27, and their first complete-game victory since Arrojo beat Kansas City five days earlier.

Even as Martinez rang up 17 strikeouts and the teams traded zeros through seven innings, Trachsel said he tried to remain oblivious to the matchup. "The last thing I want to do on the mound is get caught up in what the other guy is doing," he said.

Some other Rays, though, were convinced they saw something extra from the 29-year-old right-hander.

"I saw Steve (on Friday) and you could see the wheels were turning a little bit differently than in some of his other starts," manager Larry Rothschild said. "He may not want to say that, but he obviously knows who he is pitching against. Everyone does. ... You have to go out there and try to make every pitch you can. You know it will be a low-scoring game so you've got to eliminate your mistakes and not let up in concentration for a minute. You just have to keep going.

"Today when he took the mound, you could see he decided he was not going to give an inch and he was going to pitch his game and go about it that way."

WHAT A SURPRISE: During the ninth inning, Red Sox general manager Dan Duquette announced that Martinez would drop his planned appeal and begin serving his five-game suspension today. "It's better for us that Pedro focus on his next start rather than the appeal process," Duquette said. And it probably had nothing to do with the fact that Martinez had thrown 130 pitches and could used the extra day's rest before pitching again.

PEDRO PARTICULARS: It's not often -- but not unheard of -- that a pitcher strikes out 17 and loses. Last time it happened was June 30, 1999, when Randy Johnson struck out 17 Cincinnati Reds and lost 2-0. ... Martinez matched his career high with 17 strikeouts, equaling a Sept. 10, 1999, performance at Yankee Stadium. ... He struck out every batter in the Rays order by the fifth inning, and struck out the side in three innings. ... It was the seventh time in his career he has struck out 15 or more.

FOR THE WINNERS: There was a bottle of champagne chilling at Trachsel's locker, courtesy of veteran Ozzie Guillen. ... The Rays lead the majors with four shutouts, though their ERA in the other 25 games is 6.83. ... This was the third 1-0 game in franchise history (second of the season) and the Rays have won them all. ... It was the third 1-0 game in the AL this year. ... The Rays' last complete-game road victory was May 6, 1998, by Arrojo at Kansas City. ... The 17 strikeouts were a record for the Rays; they struck out 15 times on May 24, 1998, against Seattle's Johnson.

CANTERBURY TALES: Dwight Gooden will have a few extra fans at Sunday's Mother's Day game. As a show of thanks to his daughters' school, the Canterbury School of Florida, Gooden invited the staff, faculty, students and their families to be his guests as the game. Nearly 550 took him up on the offer. "They've done some great things there for my family," he said.

LOOKING AHEAD: Dave Eiland said his sore left thigh felt better and he expected to be able to make his next start, on Wednesday in New York. Rothschild said he is assuming as much, but that he has to be sure Eiland is 100 percent. "I'm not going to keep sending guys out there I have to keep taking out of games," he said. "I've got to know he's healthy, and it's not going to be touch and go."

MINOR MATTERS: Outfielder Jose Guillen is hitting .412 at Triple-A Durham with 11 extra-base hits and 18 RBI in 13 games. Infielder Bobby Smith is at .312 after a 10-for-18 streak. ... Durham and Double-A Orlando lead their leagues in team ERA. ... Durham closer Bill Taylor ranks first in the International League with eight saves.