Martinez Still the Real Deal

No glaring weaknesses, the Angels say. No need to upgrade, to make a significant deal by this afternoon’s trading deadline. This team can make the playoffs as is.

Maybe they can. That will be determined over the next two months.

But the Angels endured two discouraging hours Tuesday night in front of 32,812 at Edison Field. On the field, they got stomped, with Pedro Martinez personally pushing them out of first place in the American League West. Martinez pitched eight shutout innings, striking out nine, as Boston Red Sox beat the Angels, 6-0, and dropped the home team one game behind the Seattle Mariners.

During the game, the Red Sox and Oakland Athletics got better, and the competition for a playoff berth got rougher. The Red Sox, one game behind the Angels in the AL wild-card race, acquired slugger Cliff Floyd. The A’s, four games behind the Angels in the AL West, acquired left-handed reliever Ricardo Rincon.

The Angels did nothing off the field and did next to nothing on the field, playing perhaps their worst defensive game of the season on a night Martinez (14-2) dominated them at bat. The Angels had more errors (three) than hits (two).

While the Red Sox celebrated the arrival of Floyd, the Angels awaited the dawn, and the deadline. In the Boston clubhouse, Martinez called Floyd “a great addition” and Manager Grady Little said, “We’re glad to have him.”

Said Martinez of Floyd, who played for the 1997 World Series champion Florida Marlins: “He’s got his ring. Hopefully, he’ll help us get ours.”

Little was so happy that he could joke about where Floyd would play for the Red Sox. “First, we’ll have to see if he makes the team,” Little said.

In the Angel clubhouse, Manager Mike Scioscia said he would welcome some help but was almost defiant that the Angels could win if they did not make a trade.

“We’re not intimidated by anything or any moves other clubs make,” Scioscia said. “These guys are championship-caliber.”

Ramon Ortiz, who pitched a two-hitter in his only previous meeting against his idol and Dominican countryman, did not fare nearly as well this time.

The early innings offered the hint of something special, as Ortiz struck out two batters in the first, two more in the second and another in the third.

In the fourth inning, he gave up a home run to Jason Varitek, on a high fastball. In the fifth and sixth innings, his defense betrayed him.

After Brian Daubach walked to start the fifth, Tony Clark hit a ground ball to shortstop David Eckstein, a ready-made double-play ball. But the ball clanked off Eckstein’s glove for an error, so both runners were safe and there were none out instead of two.

“If I don’t make that mistake, I don’t think the other ones happen,” Eckstein said. “I think that was the key to the game.”

Rey Sanchez then grounded to third baseman Scott Spiezio, another double-play ball. Spiezio, playing in place of Troy Glaus, threw to second baseman Adam Kennedy for the first out, but first baseman Brad Fullmer failed to backhand Kennedy’s relay for another error. Daubach, who had been holding at third, scored, and then the Red Sox piled on.

Johnny Damon doubled--3-0, Boston. Trot Nixon doubled--4-0, Boston. Nomar Garciaparra doubled--5-0, Boston.

“If you have to try to get six outs in one inning, that’s going to be tough for any pitcher,” Scioscia said. “We should have been out of that inning with no runs allowed.”

After Ortiz fought his way out of the fifth inning, his defense faltered again in the sixth.

Shea Hillenbrand popped up in foul ground near home, but catcher Jose Molina dropped the ball for the Angels’ third error. On the next pitch, Hillenbrand homered.

In his last seven starts, Ortiz has lost three and won one. After pitching consecutive games without giving up a home run for the first time this season, he gave up two Tuesday and has given up 30 this year, most in the majors.