"Godzilla" too much for Phillies' Martinez

NEW YORK - Pedro Martinez brought charm, levity, appreciation, and a high baseball IQ to the Phillies after they took a chance on resuscitating his Hall of Fame career by signing him in mid-July.

But he didn't bring the weapons to tame "Godzilla."

"Godzilla" is the nickname Hideki Matsui brought along with him when he left Japan in 2003 and signed with the Yankees. In the Land of the Rising Sun, the 35-year-old Matsui enjoys legendary status equal to Martinez's in the Dominican Republic.

"Godzilla" was the monster in Martinez's nightmare in Game 6 of the World Series last night at Yankee Stadium, where the Phillies' season ended with a 7-3 defeat that gave the Yankees their 27th championship.

The Phillies were counting on the 38-year-old Martinez to get them to a Game 7. He had earned it with two quality starts in the postseason after contributing five wins in the regular season.

But last night, Martinez couldn't summon enough of his guile and big-game experience to keep Matsui from stomping on the Phillies' comeback hopes.

"They got me. That's it. It's over," Martinez said as he hustled toward an elevator with media in pursuit. Then he was gone into the chilly Bronx night.

Matsui, who homered off Martinez in Game 2, drove in all four runs Martinez allowed in the four innings he pitched. The Yankees' designated hitter got New York going with a two-run homer in the second off a 3-2 fastball, then stretched the lead to 4-0 on a bases-loaded single in the third, which made him a career 9 for 19 (.444) with four doubles, two homers, and five RBIs against Martinez in the postseason.

It was apparent from the start Martinez had no steam on his already diminished fastball, which rendered his change-up less effective. For some reason, Martinez rarely threw the curveball.

"The two hits [Matsui] got off Pedro were fastballs," manager Charlie Manuel said. "He did not have a good fastball. Basically, he was touching 87-88. Before, he was hanging around 90-91."

Still, it was unfortunate for Martinez that he even had to face Matsui in the third. He opened the inning by striking out Brett Gardner, one of five whiffs Martinez had before he was pulled for Chad Durbin. Derek Jeter hit a sinking line drive to center that Shane Victorino misplayed into a single. Apparently thinking the ball was hit harder than it was, Victorino broke back before racing in and short-hopping the ball.

Martinez didn't get a checked-swing call against Johnny Damon and ended up walking him. He then hit Mark Teixeira to load the bases for Alex Rodriguez. Phillies pitching coach Rich Dubee visited the mound to talk to Martinez while J.A. Happ warmed up.

In a tense duel, Martinez caught the outside corner to strike out A-Rod looking on a pitch Rodriguez clearly thought was a ball.

Then Manuel had a decision to make - allow Pedro to face Matsui, who owns him, or match the lefthanded Happ against the lefthanded-hitting Matsui.

Manuel bet that Martinez would figure out a way to get Matsui. He lost the bet.

"Pedro knows how to pitch. He's got experience," Manuel said. "I had to let him face that guy. It wasn't time for me to take him out."

If Victorino were to have caught Jeter's hit, Martinez wouldn't have had to deal with Matsui. As for Happ, he got his chance to face Matsui in the sixth inning, and "Godzilla" rattled a two-run double off the wall to tie a record with six RBIs in a World Series game.

This was Martinez's 40th start against the Yankees, the majority coming while he was with the arch-rival Red Sox. Martinez's appearances in New York this season - at Yankee Stadium and the Mets' Citi Field - attracted enormous local media coverage.

Yesterday's editions of the tabloid New York Post had Pedro's head superimposed on the body of a baby in a diaper with the headline, "Spank him, Yanks." In the Phillies' clubhouse before the game, Martinez reportedly got a laugh out of the photo and showed it to some of his teammates.

It was typical Pedro, laughing and lightening the mood before the biggest game of the season. It was that way for Martinez since the first day he showed up at Citizens Bank Park in July, grateful the Phillies had brought him back from the Dominican Republic when most teams thought he was washed up.

But after the disappointment of last night, Martinez decided to keep his thoughts to himself.

It's not likely Martinez will be sitting home in the Dominican Republic when next season starts, as he did this year. It's likely he'll pitch for whatever team offers him the best deal, probably a contending team. There are plenty of Phillies fans who hope it's the team in red pinstripes.