Pedro Martinez Rallies Red Sox Before Game 3 Vs. Yankees
Pedro Martinez found himself at the center of a heated rivalry between the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees. He’ll watch the longtime foes add another chapter to their storied feud on Thursday night.
Boston and New York will play a win-or-go-home Game 3 at Yankee Stadium to determine who faces the Toronto Blue Jays in the American League Division Series. Martinez hopes his former team is still standing when he’s covering the next stage for TBS.
The Hall of Fame pitcher referenced his notorious line about the Yankees when giving the Red Sox a short pep talk on social media.
“Let’s beat those Yankees!” Martinez wrote on Thursday afternoon. “You know you’ve got this! Show them who’s their daddy!!!”
Martinez famously referred to the Yankees as his “daddies” after losing Game 2 of the 2004 American League Championship Series. He got the last laugh when the Red Sox overcame a 3-0 deficit and won the franchise’s first World Series title since 1918.
The Yankees may have to call Garrett Crochet their daddy after he dominated them in Tuesday’s Game 1 win. But New York evened the series on Wednesday in a game started by Brayan Bello, a Martinez protege who got pulled during the third inning.
Martinez already was on his way to Cooperstown in 2004, but the Red Sox and Yankees are each starting a rookie pitcher with their seasons on the line. Connelly Early will make his fifth career start — and first career outing in a legitimate MLB stadium — against Massachusetts native Cam Schlittler.
Game 3 starts Thursday at 8:08 p.m. ET on ESPN.