AMERICAN LEAGUE Orioles stop Martinez, Red Sox

New-look Baltimore used an improved offense in the season opener.
BALTIMORE (AP) -- For most of the night, Pedro Martinez looked like his same, old self.
That, however, just wasn't good enough against the new version of the Baltimore Orioles.
Javy Lopez homered and drove in three runs, and fellow newcomers Rafael Palmeiro and Miguel Tejada both had two hits to lead the Orioles past the Boston Red Sox 7-2 on Sunday night in Lee Mazzilli's first game as Baltimore's manager.
Control issues
Martinez experienced an uncharacteristic lapse in control while yielding three second-inning runs, and the Red Sox never recovered. It was his third loss in 14 career games against the Orioles and his first defeat in seven opening day starts.
The Orioles last year finished 12th in the 14-team AL in runs scored, but the addition of free agents Tejada, Palmeiro and Lopez has added much-need punch to the lineup.
The trio combined to go 7-for-11 with three runs and four RBIs. Tejada was also perfect on 12 chances at shortstop.
"It's just amazing what a difference a year makes," said No. 6 hitter Jay Gibbons. "You see 3-4-5 all come through tonight -- and in the clutch, too. It's just so different."
Martinez gave up three runs, two earned, and seven hits in six innings. He struck out five, walked one and hit a batter.
"The first couple innings he wasn't as strong as he normally is, but after the third inning he became the pitcher that he always is," Lopez said.
Stalled offense
New Boston manager Terry Francona watched the Red Sox strand 14 runners against Sidney Ponson and three relievers in temperatures that dipped into the 30s. Ponson, the winner, allowed one run, seven hits and three walks in 5 2/3 innings. B.J. Ryan got five outs for the save.
Asked if he could have written a better script for his first game as a big league manager, Mazzilli said, "I didn't want to face Pedro. But if you hold that team to two runs, you're doing something."
It was Martinez's wildness, not his fastball, that got him in trouble in the Orioles' three-run second.
Lopez homered on the first pitch he saw with the Orioles, driving an 89 mph fastball into the left-field seats against Martinez, who gave up only seven homers last season.
Gibbons followed with a single and David Segui was plunked in the back with a pitch before Larry Bigbie hit a tapper in front of the plate that Martinez fielded and threw wildly to first, allowing Gibbons to score. Luis Matos then hit an RBI single.
"After that, man, I tell you what, he buckled down," Francona said. "When it looked like they were going to put up more than three, he gave us a chance to stay in the game."
Baltimore pulled away with a three-run seventh against Mike Timlin. The key hit was a two-run double by Lopez, who went 3-for-4.
BOSTONBALTIMORE
abrhbiabrhbi
Damon cf5001BRbrts 2b4000
Mueller 3b5030Mora 3b4110
MRmrz lf5021Tejada ss4120
DOrtiz dh2000RPlmo 1b3121
Burks ph1000JvLopz c4133
Millar 1b5010Gbbons rf4110
Kapler rf5030Segui dh3110
Varitek c4100Butista dh0100
Bllhorn 2b3020Bigbie lf4000
Reese ss1100Matos cf4011
Dubach ph0000
Crespo ss0000
Totals362112Totals347115
Boston001000010--2
Baltimore03000031x--7
E--Crespo (1), PMartinez (1), Mora (1). DP--Boston 1, Baltimore 3. LOB--Boston 14, Baltimore 7. 2B--Bellhorn (1), JvLopez (1), Segui (1). HR--JvLopez (1). SB--Gibbons (1), Matos (1). CS--Kapler (1), BRoberts (1).
IPHRERBBSO
Boston
PMartinez L,0-1673215
Timlin2-333321
Embree1-300000
Williamson111001
Baltimore
Ponson W,1-05 2-371133
RLopez1 1-310010
DeJean1-311120
BRyan S,11 2-320002
HBP--by Ponson (DOrtiz), by PMartinez (Segui). Umpires--Home, Rick Reed; First, Ted Barrett; Second, Ed Rapuano; Third, Alfonso Marquez. T--3:21. A--47,683.