BOSTON — When steps on the mound tonight at Fenway Park, he’ll be channeling a former Red Sox great.
“Pedro Martinez, he’s my big hero,” Jimenez said of his fellow Dominican.
If, in his first World Series appearance, Jimenez comes close to matching what Martinez did in his first World Series, the Rockies will be a giddy bunch.
Martinez, at age 33, pitched seven dazzling innings for the Red Sox in Game 3 of the 2004 series. The Cardinals managed just three hits off Martinez and lost 4-1. Boston went on to sweep the series.
Given the giant stage on which the 23-year-old Jimenez finds himself, a case of the jitters would be expected, yet he’s showing no symptoms.
“I’ve just heard it’s fun to pitch (at Fenway), so I don’t feel any pressure,” he said. “I’m just really excited about it.”
Jimenez, armed with a fastball that touches 100 mph and a wicked slider, has been excellent in his first postseason. Although he hasn’t picked up a victory in two starts, his ERA is 1.59. In fact, he’s allowed just one run in each of his past three starts (including his final start of the regular season).
“Jimenez’s stuff will be electric,” manager Clint Hurdle said. “That’s the kind of stuff that every once in a while you step back and go, wow, that’s special.”
Jimenez has never faced the Red Sox or their power-packed lineup that includes David Ortiz (.387 avg., three postseason homers) and Manny Ramirez (.400, four p0stseason home runs). He says he’s not intimidated.
“I know it has to come, so just let it come,” he said, laughing. “I’m not worried about it. I’m just going to go out and face everybody like it’s the same; just throw strikes and go after them.”
