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 08/05/2002 00:35 am ET
Myette still feeling growing pains
By Jesse Sanchez / MLB.com
ARLINGTON, Texas -- Aaron Myette's growing pains are starting to leave the Rangers feeling achy.
On Sunday, Myette threw less than four innings for his third straight start and allowed a career-high eight runs in the Rangers' 11-3 loss to Boston. Myette has lost each of his last four starts, posting a 14.96 ERA. He has lost a career-high five in a row dating back to his final start last season.
Myette is out of options next season and was moved into the starting rotation from Triple-A on July 19 so the Rangers brass could get a good look at him. At times, he's been brilliant. Other times, he's been hard to look at.
Rangers manager Jerry Narron continues to support his pitcher, but stopped short of guaranteeing the young right-hander another start. Myette has not pitched more than 5 1/3 innings in any of his five starts this season.
"Aaron Myette has been very inconsistent," Narron said. "Right now we are going to look at the start he had tonight. We are going to go back and see what we have and what we can improve on.."
The Red Sox (65-45) led 1-0 after the first inning and extended their lead to three runs with back-to-back home runs by Trot Nixon and Nomar Garciaparra in the third, the sixth time Boston has hit consecutive homers in an inning this season.
"He gave up back-to-back home runs and he could not get anybody out after that," Narron said. "I believe in Aaron Myette. I think he has a great arm. He has to believe in himself."
In the fourth, Boston added five runs, two on a two-run homer by Garciaparra, to extend its lead to 8-0. Myette was yanked and replaced by Rob Bell after giving up Garciaparra's second home run of the game.
"At times, Aaron has very good stretches hitting his spots. He did it tonight in stretches, but you have to be more consistent," Narron said. "He kept the ball down better tonight."
Myette struggled. His Boston counterpart, Pedro Martinez, shined.
Martinez (15-2) racked up 10 strikeouts in the victory and has now fanned at least 10 batters eight times this season and 86 times in his career. The right-hander's ERA drops to 2.25 and he joined teammate Derek Lowe and Oakland's Barry Zito with an American League-leading 15 wins. Martinez has not allowed an earned run in five of his last seven starts.
"I was really looking forward to facing him. I wish we could have kept it close," Narron said. "The only chance to beat him is to keep it close. If you can't, forget about it."
Former Red Sox outfielder Carl Everett hit a single in the second inning and Texas second baseman Michael Young hit a one-out single in the third, but Martinez went on to retire the next 13 consecutive batters. Rafael Palmeiro broke the hitless streak with a two-out single in the seventh.
Martinez walked the next batter, Everett, and forced Herbert Perry into a flyout to shallow centerfield on his 100th and final pitch to end the inning. Rangers right fielder Kevin Mench extended his hitting streak to 10 consecutive games with an RBI-single with two outs in the eighth off of Alan Embree.
The Rangers finished the ten-game home stand against Oakland, New York and Boston with a 5-5 record. They travel to Detroit for three games starting Tuesday.
"These were three of the best clubs in baseball," Narron said. "Our guys come out and give a great effort every night. It's not easy losing a game like tonight. Getting blown out is not easy if you are young or old."
Probables
Tuesday at Detroit (6:05) - Chan Ho Park (4-3, 7.08) vs. Steve Sparks (5-11, 5.50)
Wednesday at Detroit (6:05) - Joaquin Benoit (2-1, 3.95) vs. Mark Redman (7-9, 3.20)
Thursday at Detroit (6:05) - Ismael Valdes (5-8 3.78) vs. Jose Lima (2-4)
Jesse Sanchez covers the Texas Rangers for MLB.com. He can
be contacted via email at jsanchez@texasrangers.com.This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

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