BOSTON -- The 70th All-Star Game did not deliver the fireworks that normally are associated with Fenway Park, but that didn't keep the midseason classic from becoming one enchanted evening.
The emotional pre-game ceremony involving dozens of baseball's all-time greats and a heartwarming appearance by Red Sox icon Ted Williams was worth the price of admission. The American League's 4-1 victory before a sellout crowd of 34,187 seemed more like an encore.
Maybe it would have been different if the sport's most famous bandbox had lived up to its billing, but the game featured only two extra-base hits and not a single ball in the vicinity of the famous Green Monster.
Much of the pre-game buildup focused on Fenway's cozy fence dimensions and the legendary left-field wall, which had served as the ideal backdrop for Monday night's nationally televised home run contest, but Red Sox ace Pedro Martinez quickly put a dent in the historic ballpark's hitter-friendly reputation.
He has made himself at home here all season, winning nine of 10 decisions on the way to a 15-3 first half that included back-to-back American League Pitcher of the Month awards in April and May. He has been virtually unbeatable, and he was virtually unhittable last night, pitching two hitless innings as the American League staff held the power-laden National League lineup to just a run on seven hits -- five of them singles.
Martinez struck out the first four batters he faced, blowing a fastball by major-league home run leader Sammy Sosa to end the first inning and ringing up single-season home run king Mark McGwire to lead off the second. It was the first time in All-Star history that a pitcher had opened the game with more than two consecutive strikeouts, and he was rewarded with the game's Most Valuable Player Award.
The game was delayed briefly by the extended and heartwarming pre-game ceremony, in which 31 of the greatest players in the history of the game were introduced and Williams threw out the ceremonial first pitch. The All-Stars and all-timers converged on Williams when he arrived on the field, creating a touching scene that left the Red Sox immortal teary-eyed.
"It was great you could really feel the excitement," said Red Sox shortstop Nomar Garciaparra. "I think it was really nice the way everybody surrounded him. They told us to go back to the dugout and we said 'No.' It was one of those things where everybody appreciated that they were part of something special."
The game almost seemed secondary, but no one seemed to mind. American League manager Joe Torre, who was one of the first All-Stars to greet Williams, could not avoid getting caught up in the moment, even though he was just minutes away from managing his second All-Star Game.
"It was so moving," he said. "You see guys like Warren Spahn and Bob Gibson out there, guys you played against, and then Ted Williams puts the cherry on top. You do get caught up in it. It was a great event."
The emotional ceremony and a raucous reception from the sellout crowd got Martinez right in the mood for a marvelous performance. He didn't allow a National League hitter to contact the ball until Matt Williams took a defensive swing and reached base on an error by Indians second baseman Roberto Alomar. Martinez would go on to strike out Colorado Rockies outfielder Larry Walker, with Williams being out attempting to steal, to complete the most dominating pitching performance of the evening.
"I was really excited," Martinez said. "It wasn't just the fan reaction, but also seeing so many of the glories of baseball together at one time. It was great to see all those people out there. These are people that you only see on television or in films they are the people that you dream about."
National League starter Curt Schilling was not quite as overpowering, though he struck out three batters during his two-inning performance. He allowed two runs in the bottom of the first on run-scoring singles by Indians first baseman Jim Thome and Orioles third baseman Cal Ripken, before settling down to retire the side in order in the second.
"I'm happy," said Schilling, who entered the game with 13 first-half victories. "I would have liked to have thrown two scoreless innings, but I'm happy to be here and I'm honored to get the start."
The National League starting lineup was packed with power hitters -- seven entered the game on pace to hit 40-or-more home runs -- but the American League pitching staff was more than equal to the challenge. Yankees right-hander David Cone gave up a run in the third on an RBI single by Reds shortstop Barry Larkin, but the Green Monster never came into play.
"I'll challenge anybody to score runs off that pitching staff," said Larkin, "but I was surprised that nobody got a pitch to yank over that wall."
Former Orioles first baseman Rafael Palmeiro extended the American League lead with a run-scoring single in the fourth and former Oriole Roberto Alomar drove in the fourth AL run when he reached base on an error later in that inning.
Each of the four Orioles on the American League squad got into the game. Ripken -- the only starter -- singled and reached base a second time when he was struck by a pitch in the fourth.
Mike Mussina pitched a scoreless fifth, escaping a two-on jam by striking out Sosa and McGwire back to back.
Designated hitter Harold Baines singled in his only at-bat. And outfielder B. J. Surhoff was hitless in a pair of at-bats.
Striking displays
Pedro Martinez is the first to strike out four batters at the start of an All-Star Game, one short of the record for consecutive strikeouts anytime during the game:
Carl Hubbell (5), 1934: Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Jimmie Foxx, Al Simmons, Joe Cronin.
Fernando Valenzuela (5), 1986: Don Mattingly, Cal Ripken, Jesse Barfield, Lou Whitaker, Teddy Higuera.
Pedro Martinez (4), 1999: Barry Larkin, Larry Walker, Sammy Sosa, Mark McGwire.
Steady star
After going 1-for-1 last night, Cal Ripken is hitting .273 (12-for-44) in his 17 All-Star Games, with hits in seven of the games this decade. A look:
Yr. H-AB Skinny
'90 0-2 Hitless in Chicago
'91 2-3 Won MVP with 3-run HR off D. Martinez
'92 1-3 RBI single off Glavine
'93 0-3 Camden Yards ovation, but 2 groundouts
'94 1-5 Iron Man played all 10 innings
'95 2-3 Singled off T. Greene, C. Perez
'96 0-3 Broke nose in team photo, played
'97 1-2 Had single in his first start at 3rd
'98 1-4 2-run double in record-setting 15th straight start
'99 1-1 RBI single in first