(My Sportsbook) - Pedro Martinez didn't look like a three-time Cy Young Award winner in late September. However, the Red Sox righthander is off to a strong start in October and Boston is on the verge of advancing to the American League Championship Series for a second straight year.

Martinez started to draw criticism and concern that his late September swoon would possibly put pressure on the Red Sox in case he didn't perform in the playoffs. Coming into Wednesday night's Game 2 of the Division Series in Anaheim, Martinez had dropped his final four starts of the regular season in ugly fashion, allowing 30 hits and 20 earned runs in a span of 23 1/3 innings.

However, Martinez displayed excellent command Wednesday night, allowing six hits and three runs in seven innings in Boston's 8-3 triumph at Angel Stadium. Now, the Red Sox have a chance to sweep the Angels in the best-of-five set Friday afternoon at Fenway Park.

"It's a great feeling for the team to go home where we play so well, basically, ahead 2 and 0," Martinez said. "It's not any surprise to me, but I am really happy in the same way to actually go back to where I wanted to be, and no better moment to actually change the way I was doing things."

The late season struggles by Martinez, combined with the fact of Curt Schilling winning a major league-best 21 games during the regular season, pushed Pedro to the No. 2 starter in the playoffs. To Martinez, he doesn't need to be put on a pedestal. Playing second-fiddle to Schilling is fine for him.

"I was number 1 today. That's all that matters to me," Martinez said. "I don't believe in what the experts from out here have to say. I am just here to do my job. I get paid to do my job, and I do it anywhere they choose to put me. I actually shut my mouth, I ate my ego, because I wanted to let go on some of these experts around here talking trash, and I swallowed it. To me, anytime they give me the ball, I am special. I am the number 1. It doesn't matter how many days I have to wait."

And as for the rumors predicated by the media that Martinez doesn't get along with Schilling...

"Enough with the trash talking," Martinez quipped Wednesday night. "We get along really well. I have never been mad because he pitches any game. He has been outstanding against not only this team, but any team we played. We get along great. Please don't try to break that up, making up trash, talking -- or making up stuff that's not true. I am glad I am the type to feel better."

On Wednesday, Martinez threw 116 pitches, 79 of them for strikes. He escaped a few jams and limited the damage to only three Angel runs. He retired the last seven batters and improved to 5-1 with a 3.19 ERA in the postseason.

"His command tonight was very, very good," Red Sox manager Terry Francona said. "His command the last few outings weren't as good as tonight. He was over the middle of the plate, which makes a big game. He is a big-game pitcher, but when he is commanding, because he has four different pitches, he can change speeds, he can elevate, there is a lot of different ways for him to get people out. I thought he used them all tonight very efficiently, very effectively."

The Red Sox rallied from a 3-1 deficit last night. Jason Varitek tied the game with a two-run homer in the sixth and Manny Ramirez put Boston ahead with a sacrifice fly the next inning. Orlando Cabrera's three-run double keyed a four- run ninth.

Although the Red Sox would love to have Schilling or Martinez throw every playoff game that's not possible, and on Friday it'll be Bronson Arroyo's turn to jump into the mix against Kelvim Escobar. It'll be Arroyo's first postseason start of his career.