And It Didn't Get Any Better... [J. Mark English]

BOSTON (AP) -- Pedro Martinez was touched by the fans and tagged by the Red Sox.

Boston's former ace signed autographs when he arrived at Fenway Park and heard an adoring crowd chant "Pedro! Pedro!" as he warmed up before the bottom of the first.

Then he gave up four runs in that inning, four more in the third and spent the rest of the game on the sidelines as baseball's hottest team went on to a 10-2 win over the New York Mets on Wednesday night.

But after his worst performance in two seasons with the Mets, the right-hander who won two Cy Young Awards with the Red Sox and the hearts of their fans still flashed the charming smile they had seen so often during his seven seasons in Boston.

"It's not disappointing at all," Martinez said. "The reception I got, I will always remember that as one of the best moments of my life."