Pedro Takes Marlins Out Of Game One Literally
Detroit 7, Marlins 2
(Tigers lead series 1-0)
Boxscore
     Everyone knows that Pedro Martinez is a special pitcher who believes the plate belongs to him and he'll do whatever it takes to keep it that way.  Some accuse him of being a "head-hunter" but his teammates say it's just being aggressive and today the Marlins got a taste of Pedro's "aggressiveness."  After two Marlins had already been hit earlier, GlenAllen Hill took exception after being hit in the 7th inning and was ejected.  Hill never reached the mound as he was cut-off by Detroit's Mike Lieberthal and Jim Thome but both benches cleared and heated discussions between players took place.  Both teams were warned and the game continued but Hill was the lone ejection.  "You tell me if it was intentional or not.  All I know is two of our guys had already been hit then I get pushed off the plate then hit the very next pitch," said Hill after the game.  Marlins manager Rogers Hornsby said, "We all know Martinez is aggressive & will come right at you but three of our guys got hit and it could have been more.  I'm not going to fan the flames but this might just come back to hurt them in the end."  In the press conference after the game Tiger's manager Robin Yount had a different side, "If Pedro was throwing at him I can't figure out why.  We were up 5-2 with no one on base.  Yea three of their guys were hit but two of them were right on top of the plate."  When Martinez was asked about it in the post-game conference he shrugged it off saying, "That's part of the game nowadays.  You have guys out there on top of the plate wearing braces taking the inside away.  I pitch inside and sometimes things happen.  I don't try to hurt people but I won't let them effect the way I pitch."  When asked how he'd feel coming to bat again in the series Martinez responded, "I'm not worried.  If they feel like they have to hit me to respond then we'll see but until then I just play the game."
     Pedro Martinez improved to 4-0 in the post-season pitching 7 innings allowing 2 runs on 5 hits while striking out 9 as the Tigers won 7-2 today.  Meanwhile the Tiger offense pounded out 15 hits led by BJ Surhoff who batted 2-5 with 3 rbis and Randy Winn 3-4 with a homerun and 2 rbis.  The top of the Tiger order combined to bat 5-14 with 2 runs scored, stolen base and 4 rbis on the day.  OF Butch Huskey continued his terrific post-season batting 3-4 while scoring a pair of runs.  On the Marlins side Ken Griffey Jr. hit a pair of doubles while driving in one but other then that the Marlins offense was shutdown.  Florida SP John Burkett allowed 5 runs on 10 hits while walking 2 and striking out 3 as he pitched 6 innings.  The battle of the bullpens saw Detroit's Jose Cabrera come up large again for the Tigers pitching 2 innings allowing 2 hits while striking out one.