INDIANS Martinez masters Cleveland again

The Red Sox ace improved to 10-1 with a 1.66 ERA against the Tribe.
CLEVELAND (AP) -- Nobody chases the fear away for the Boston Red Sox quite like Pedro Martinez.
With his team needing a win to stay in control of the AL wild card race, Martinez made sure the Red Sox got one.
Martinez struck out 11 in seven shutout innings Sunday, keeping Boston on track to make the playoffs with a 2-0 win over Cleveland.
Martinez (14-4) allowed four hits as the Red Sox opened a 2 1/2-game lead over Seattle for the wild card with a week remaining in the regular season.
"He gives us so much confidence," first baseman Kevin Millar said. "When he's out there, we know we can turn it over to the offense and we should be able to take over. He just means so much."
Recovering Red Sox
Martinez came through one day after Boston's late-inning meltdown when starter Derek Lowe and the bullpen gave up 12 runs in two innings of a 13-4 loss to the Indians.
"Pedro was on top of his game," Boston manager Grady Little said. "It helps to have a Pedro to bring us back after a tough loss."
Martinez walked two and raised his season strikeout total to 204. It wasn't the first time he has shut down the Indians -- he improved to 10-1 with a 1.66 ERA in 14 career starts against Cleveland, and 5-0 in six starts at Jacobs Field.
"It seems like every time we had him on the ropes, he took it up another notch," Indians first baseman Ben Broussard said. "He'd throw a fastball 88 mph, the next one 92, and the next one 95. He's so polished."
And for a change, Boston's unpredictable bullpen was smooth, too.
Mike Timlin worked a hitless eighth and Byung-Hyun Kim pitched the ninth for his 15th save.
"We need our bullpen," catcher Jason Varitek said. "It can't be, 'Pedro's done, uh-oh.' We believe in our bullpen. B.K. came in, 1-2-3, boom, did the job. We don't have time for guys to feel sorry for themselves. They have to just take the ball and get back out there."
Lee hangs tough
Manny Ramirez hit an RBI double in Boston's two-run second off Indians rookie left-hander Cliff Lee (3-2), who nearly matched Martinez pitch for pitch.
Lee allowed two runs and three hits in seven innings against baseball's best hitting team.
"Seven innings, two runs, not bad against the Red Sox," Lee said. "I'm satisfied with the outing, but not with the outcome."
Cleveland's best scoring threat off Martinez came in the seventh inning when they loaded the bases.
Martinez walked Broussard with one out, and Victor Martinez singled. Travis Hafner hit a fly ball deep enough to center to move Broussard to third and pinch-hitter Josh Bard drew a walk.
But after falling behind 2-0 to pinch-hitter Angel Santos, Martinez battled back and struck him out.