Sox lineup must wake up at home

Who’s your daddy? What was Pedro Martinez thinking when he said that? Nice fodder for the New York Yankee bulletin board and the fans’ placards. Still, can’t blame Martinez for the Red Sox loss in Game 2 of the American League Championship Series.

Let’s review. Going into the series, it was the struggling Yankee starters vs. the Sox big bats. After two games, Yankee starters Mike Mussina and Jon Lieber have pitched 13 2/3 innings, surrendering five runs on seven hits.

The Sox starters, Martinez and bad-ankled (no, that is not a word, except in Red Sox Nation) Curt Schilling, have gone nine, giving up nine runs on 10 hits.

The Sox have been outhit 21-15 and outscored 13-8. Of concern are Mark Bellhorn and Kevin Millar at 1-for-8 in the series and Bill Mueller at 1-for-7. An even greater concern is Johnny Damon at 0-for-8 with 5 K’s.

That’s why the games get played. You just never know.

Now this. The Red Sox were built for Fenway. In the end that may come back to haunt them, but for the next three games, they are still the favorites based on offensive prowess at home.

The Sox led the majors during the regular season with a .304 batting average at home. They are 45 points better in that department than on the road. Their 517 runs at Fenway were second to none.

The Sox pounded out 111 home runs at home, which was tied for second in the majors with, of all teams, the Colorado Rockies. (Texas ranked first in home runs at their home yard.)

The Sox were third in the AL with a 4.09 ERA at home. Sure, these are just numbers, but they are numbers that tell a true tale over the course of the season when the Sox return to the cozy green monster.

The Sox finished with a 55-26 mark at Fenway. Bear in mind the Yankees were even better at Yankee Stadium, where they went 57-24.

The Sox must win two of three at home and that is clearly within the realm of possibility.

Bronson Arroyo and Tim Wakefield add to their list of most important starts against the Yankees. Kevin Brown is the Yankee starter for Game 3. He is an enigma.

While Schilling battles the ankle injury, Brown has a bad back that has flared up all season. He pitched well against Minnesota, but his recovery time varies from start to start, and if things are not going well, he is prone to temper tantrums that can affect his performance.

Such a tantrum occurred when he broke bones in his left hand during the season by smashing it into a wall.

Orlando Hernandez is a question mark as a starter for Game 4, with Javier Vazquez hoping he might get that start.

The Sox will have to wait on Schilling to see if there is another game left in his ankle. He has already been scratched as the Game 5 starter but may be available for Game 6 or 7.

Then there is New York closer Mariano Rivera. Once he is retired, the postseason MVP award should bear his name.

If the Sox bats can do their Fenway thing, Rivera will not be seen. If he’s walking in from right field, the Sox are in deep trouble.

Old Town native Gary Thorne is an ESPN and ABC sportscaster.