The streaking Sox all but did no wrong as they whipped A's bulldog Tim Hudson behind the latest mastery by Pedro Martinez to win their 20th game in 22 tries and complete a staggering three-game sweep, 8-3, before 39,575 at Network Associates Coliseum. With the victory, the Sox climbed within two games of the division-leading Yankees for the first time since June 2, a span of 85 games and a whole lot of tumult.
The Sox also expanded their lead over the Angels in the wild card race to five games as they finished a defining nine-game stretch against the Angels, Rangers, and A's at 8-1.
"It means we are ready to play anybody on any grounds at anytime right now," Martinez said. "We're that hot. We're just rolling. Any team that stands in front of us is going to have a hard time."
Next stop, Seattle, where the Sox open a four-game series tonight against the Mariners, losers of seven straight.
"This shows we're for real," Damon said of taking eight of nine from three straight playoff contenders. "It shows everyone we're peaking at the right time, pitchers, defense, and hitters."
Martinez (.715) and Hudson (.711) entered the game with the two highest career winning percentages among active pitchers, but Martinez turned the matchup into a laugher as he two-hit the A's over six scoreless innings to improve to 16-5 and remain in contention for the Cy Young Award with Curt Schilling, Minnesota's Johan Santana, and Oakland's Mark Mulder. It helped that the Sox staked him to a 3-0 lead after one inning and 7-0 cushion after three.
"It's really nice to go out there and realize you just have to throw strikes and make things happen, to actually push the other team to come and get you," Martinez said.
Even though Hudson had won his last four starts, he was no match for the Sox, who battered him for seven runs on six hits, five walks, and a hit batsman over three innings, his shortest start since Sept. 3, 2003 in Baltimore. He fired 38 pitches in a nightmarish first inning and 79 over his three-inning thrashing.
