FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) – Pedro Martinez walked three batters in two innings and raved about his performance.

“I’m really happy with the way everything went,” he said after the Boston Red Sox beat the Baltimore Orioles 5-2 on Sunday. “I felt stronger and stronger. It’s a great sign.”

He felt so strong that it caused his fastball to rise, he said. He threw 54 pitches in two innings, 31 for strikes. The team had established a 45-pitch limit, but Martinez said he felt good enough to pitch another inning.

“The way it’s going right now is perfect,” Martinez said. “It doesn’t matter how many balls I threw today. Once you ring the bell on opening day, I should be able to throw a strike.”

His third walk of the second inning, to Tim Raines Jr., came with the bases loaded and drove in Rafael Palmeiro, who singled.

The game was a preview of the expected opening night pitching matchup between Martinez and Sidney Ponson on April 4 at Baltimore.

Boston took a 2-0 lead in the second against Ponson on homers by Johnny Damon and David Ortiz, then added three runs against him in the fourth on RBI singles by Cesar Crespo and Gabe Kapler and a sacrifice fly by Pokey Reese.

Ortiz has four exhibition homers after hitting 31 and finishing third in the AL with a .592 slugging percentage.

Baltimore’s second run scored in the fifth on singles by Brian Roberts, Larry Bigbie and Miguel Tejada against Keith Foulke.

Martinez said he feels better than he did last year when he went 14-4 with a league-best 2.22 ERA. He even got a tip from a friend, Orioles first baseman David Segui. They approached each other and exchanged words as Martinez left

the mound after the second inning.

“Segui just told me to raise my arm up,” Martinez said. “I appreciate that advice, somebody that really cares, that shows me a lot.”

Catcher Jason Varitek didn’t see many problems with Martinez. He said some of his pitches missed the strike zone my just “a smidgen.”

“The guy’s strong,” Varitek said. “He’s developed into the body he’s worked on over the last couple of years. He’s got a glow about him. He’s excited. He’s got a hop in his step.”

In his first start last Tuesday, Martinez allowed one run on one hit in two innings while walking one and striking out two.

His weight is where he wants it, at about 188 to 190 pounds. Two years ago he came to spring training at 196 and last season he dropped to 174 because of a throat infection.

“There’s some extra strength in my arm and its only my second outing of spring training,” Martinez said. “I felt like I could throw 98 mph today.”

Notes:New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick visited the Red Sox dugout before the game. … SS Nomar Garciaparra missed his second straight game with a sore heel. Manager Terry Francona said he might play Tuesday night against Cincinnati. The Red Sox are off Monday. … Brian Roberts and Bigbie each had two of Baltimore’s eight hits. Damon and Varitek had two hits each for Boston.