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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Homers Up, Doubles Down For Martinez

Larry Larue Tacoma News-Tribune

A year ago, when he was on pace to set the major league record for two-base hits, Edgar Martinez was injured - and settled for becoming just the fifth player ever to have back-to-back seasons with 50-or-more doubles.

He won’t reach that level in 1997, and though he’s not troubled by it he is aware his doubles are down this season (28).

“I don’t get many doubles because of my speed, and for whatever reason this year, I’m not hitting balls in the gaps,” Martinez said. “I can’t direct them after I hit them.”

Martinez began the game Monday batting .327, precisely the same average he had at the end of last season. He has 21 home runs this year after hitting 26 last year, and doesn’t think power has anything to do with the doubles drop off.

“It just seems like every time I hit a ball hard, it’s at somebody,” he said. “If I hit a ball off the wall, it bounces right at the outfielder.”

Frustrating? Martinez does not yield easily to that emotion.

“No, it’s more like I appreciate how great those two doubles seasons were,” he said. “Home runs are one thing - you get the ball up, hit it well, they go. Doubles, they have to be hit in the right spots no matter how hard you hit them. You have two seasons like I did, people expect more. I don’t think it’ll be a bad year if I finish with 35 doubles.”

Notes

Infielder Andy Sheets, recalled from Tacoma on Saturday - ostensibly to help set up the postseason roster and give shortstop Alex Rodriguez an occasional break - was optioned back to the Rainiers on Monday to make room for pitcher Felipe Lira. In the interim, Sheets started one game at second base and got his first two big-league at-bats of the season. … Expect more roster moves soon, as the team activates outfielder Rob Ducey and looks to add a veteran hitter to the team. … After taking an Omar Olivares fastball on the left arm, Frank Thomas stayed in the game Sunday but was a late scratch from the Chicago lineup Monday with a bruise and is listed as day-to-day.

Seattle begins a nine-game homestand today with against Cleveland in the Kingdome with John Smiley (1-2, 5.95) facing Ken Cloude (1-1, 3.75).