Edgar Martinez

The most frightening sight of the night for Edgar Martinez was not the nasty collection of fastballs and split-fingered pitches that Jack McDowell, New York's starter-turned-closer, had for him in the 11th inning of the final division series game between the New York Yankees and the Seattle Mariners. Martinez can handle pitches, something he proved ceaselessly while batting .571 with 10 RBIs against the Yankees. But after Martinez finally ended this tumultuous, incredible series with a two-run double in the 11th last night to give Seattle a come-from-behind, 6-5 win and a date with Cleveland in the AL championship series, he faced a truly scary sight.

It came later than expected, but Ken Griffey reached a milestone. Griffey, in his second game since coming off the disabled list, at 25 became the seventh-youngest player to reach 1,000 hits in the visiting Mariners' 6-4 win over the Minnesota Twins last night. "It could have happened last year, but there was a strike. It could have happened earlier this year, but I hit a wall," Griffey said. "I told you I'd get it. " Griffey was sidelined for 73 games this season with a broken wrist.

Edgar Martinez had three bats lined up along the batting cage. All were different sizes, different weights, and each had a specific purpose. "Habits," he said. "I believe in doing things over and over again. The thoughts stay with you. Just like bad habits stay with you. " In a week, Martinez has gone from baseball's best-kept secret to the most sought-after voice on hitting since Ted Williams. OK, so Tony Gwynn and Wade Boggs are asked about hitting, too. But they're not in the American League Championship Series.

Paul Sorrento, who played against Seattle in the American League playoffs this fall while with the Cleveland Indians, agreed yesterday to a one-year contract with the Mariners. Sorrento became a free agent on Dec. 21 when the Indians failed to offer a 1996 contract after declining to exercise a $1.5 million option. The first baseman, who had a $1,075,000 salary in 1995 in the final season of a $2.1 million, three-year contract, will get $1 million in 1996. The Mariners have a $1.5 million option for 1997 and must pay a $100,000 buyout if they don't exercise it. Seattle traded first baseman Tino Martinez to the New York Yankees after the season and has been searching for a replacement.

Pedro Martinez felt like he was exceptional from the start. The Seattle Mariners certainly agreed. Martinez struck out 15 for the second straight game and became the first seven-game winner in the major leagues last night, leading the Boston Red Sox over the visiting Mariners, 9-2. "I had everything going," said Martinez, who fanned at least one batter in every inning, including Ken Griffey Jr. three times. Martinez (7-1), who matched the career strikeout high he set against Anaheim last Friday, reached double digits for the sixth straight start - a feat only he and Randy Johnson have accomplished since 1987.

He won just 11 games in each of his first two big-league seasons, and this year didn't get off to the best of starts. But now Brad Radke would be disappointed if he isn't a 20-game winner. "That would be nice," Radke (17-7) said yesterday after giving up just three hits in eight innings as the visiting Minnesota Twins ended a 10-game losing streak with an 11-1 rout of the Detroit Tigers. "It would be the icing on the cake of a good season. " Denny Hocking, Terry Steinbach and Matt Lawton homered as the Twins, outscored, 77-26, during their losing streak, supported Radke with a 14-hit attack off five pitchers.

If this was indeed Alex Rodriguez's famous final scene in this caffeine-fueled city, at least he will head off to seek his free-agent riches with the sound of adulation and appreciation ringing in his ears. With his team near death in the American League Championship Series, Rodriguez led a season-saving fifth-inning rally last night as the Seattle Mariners stiff-armed elimination with a rousing 6-2 victory over the New York Yankees in Game 5 at sold-out Safeco Field. The Mariners overcame a 2-1 deficit with five runs in the fifth inning, three coming on back-to-back home runs by Edgar Martinez and John Olerud against shell-shocked Yankees reliever Jeff Nelson.

Midday at the Seattle Marriott. Groggy New York writers are checking out. Fresh faces from Cleveland and the rest of the country are checking in. "Got anything left over to help me write my story?" one incoming asks one outgoing. "Here," a New York guy says, reaching into his bag. "You'll need these. " Earplugs. Welcome to baseball in the Kingdome in October. One day after the Mariners' stunning fifth-game defeat of the Yankees in their Division Series, this is really what it breaks down to. Noise.

SORRY, KEN MACHA: Trenton Thunder publicist Tom McCarthy informs us that we got the facts wrong in an item in Monday's paper. Ken Macha, the manager of the Double A Eastern League team, was not involved in the July 20 brawl at Trenton's SoHo Bar & Restaurant. The parent Boston Red Sox had Macha fine six of his players. Macha was not fined, as we reported. "He's the one who handed down the discipline to the players," McCarthy said. Either bad information in the Associated Press story or erroneous editing is to blame.

In a historic season that included 116 wins, Ichiro-mania, Bret Boone's bulging biceps, and Jamie Moyer's becoming the oldest pitcher to crack the 20-win mark for the first time, it would not seem right if the Seattle Mariners did not make it to the World Series this year. The Mariners took a giant step toward playing in their first Big One yesterday when they closed out the Cleveland Indians with a 3-1 win in the decisive fifth game of their American League division series at Safeco Field.

In a historic season that included 116 wins, Ichiro-mania, Bret Boone's bulging biceps, and Jamie Moyer's becoming the oldest pitcher to crack the 20-win mark for the first time, it would not seem right if the Seattle Mariners did not make it to the World Series this year. The Mariners took a giant step toward playing in their first Big One yesterday when they closed out the Cleveland Indians with a 3-1 win in the decisive fifth game of their American League division series at Safeco Field.

If this was indeed Alex Rodriguez's famous final scene in this caffeine-fueled city, at least he will head off to seek his free-agent riches with the sound of adulation and appreciation ringing in his ears. With his team near death in the American League Championship Series, Rodriguez led a season-saving fifth-inning rally last night as the Seattle Mariners stiff-armed elimination with a rousing 6-2 victory over the New York Yankees in Game 5 at sold-out Safeco Field. The Mariners overcame a 2-1 deficit with five runs in the fifth inning, three coming on back-to-back home runs by Edgar Martinez and John Olerud against shell-shocked Yankees reliever Jeff Nelson.

Pedro Martinez felt like he was exceptional from the start. The Seattle Mariners certainly agreed. Martinez struck out 15 for the second straight game and became the first seven-game winner in the major leagues last night, leading the Boston Red Sox over the visiting Mariners, 9-2. "I had everything going," said Martinez, who fanned at least one batter in every inning, including Ken Griffey Jr. three times. Martinez (7-1), who matched the career strikeout high he set against Anaheim last Friday, reached double digits for the sixth straight start - a feat only he and Randy Johnson have accomplished since 1987.

He won just 11 games in each of his first two big-league seasons, and this year didn't get off to the best of starts. But now Brad Radke would be disappointed if he isn't a 20-game winner. "That would be nice," Radke (17-7) said yesterday after giving up just three hits in eight innings as the visiting Minnesota Twins ended a 10-game losing streak with an 11-1 rout of the Detroit Tigers. "It would be the icing on the cake of a good season. " Denny Hocking, Terry Steinbach and Matt Lawton homered as the Twins, outscored, 77-26, during their losing streak, supported Radke with a 14-hit attack off five pitchers.

Seattle placed two-time American League batting champion Edgar Martinez on the 15-day disabled list yesterday, retroactive to Sunday, with bruised ribs. Martinez, baseball's premier designated hitter, started at third base Saturday for the first time this season and was injured when he collided with catcher John Marzano while chasing a pop-up in the third inning. He sat out Sunday's game, ending his string of 293 consecutive games played. Martinez, 33, is hitting .334 with 22 homers and 82 RBI. He leads the majors with 44 doubles, and was on a pace to shatter Earl Webb's 1931 major-league record of 67. Atlanta placed lefthander Steve Avery on the 15-day disabled list with a pulled left oblique muscle.

Edgar Martinez of the Seattle Mariners was selected American League player of the week yesterday after hitting .560 with four doubles and two homers last week. Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Brett Butler began radiation treatments for throat cancer in Atlanta. The treatments will continue for six weeks. Butler, 38, lives in suburban Duluth, Ga. Doctors removed a cancerous tonsil from his throat May 2 and operated again May 21 to remove lymph nodes, only one of which proved to be cancerous.

Paul Sorrento, who played against Seattle in the American League playoffs this fall while with the Cleveland Indians, agreed yesterday to a one-year contract with the Mariners. Sorrento became a free agent on Dec. 21 when the Indians failed to offer a 1996 contract after declining to exercise a $1.5 million option. The first baseman, who had a $1,075,000 salary in 1995 in the final season of a $2.1 million, three-year contract, will get $1 million in 1996. The Mariners have a $1.5 million option for 1997 and must pay a $100,000 buyout if they don't exercise it. Seattle traded first baseman Tino Martinez to the New York Yankees after the season and has been searching for a replacement.

The Cleveland Indians are going to the World Series for the first time in 41 years because they are much more than just Albert Belle. The Seattle Mariners missed their first-ever chance because, at least in this American League Championship Series, they were little more than Randy Johnson. Shut out 4-0 in Game 6 last night by Indians starter Dennis Martinez and two relievers, the Mariners finished with a batting average of .184. Worse was this: In 39 opportunities with runners in scoring position, they succeeded three times.

Edgar Martinez had three bats lined up along the batting cage. All were different sizes, different weights, and each had a specific purpose. "Habits," he said. "I believe in doing things over and over again. The thoughts stay with you. Just like bad habits stay with you. " In a week, Martinez has gone from baseball's best-kept secret to the most sought-after voice on hitting since Ted Williams. OK, so Tony Gwynn and Wade Boggs are asked about hitting, too. But they're not in the American League Championship Series.

Midday at the Seattle Marriott. Groggy New York writers are checking out. Fresh faces from Cleveland and the rest of the country are checking in. "Got anything left over to help me write my story?" one incoming asks one outgoing. "Here," a New York guy says, reaching into his bag. "You'll need these. " Earplugs. Welcome to baseball in the Kingdome in October. One day after the Mariners' stunning fifth-game defeat of the Yankees in their Division Series, this is really what it breaks down to. Noise.