BOSTON (AP) – Pedro Martinez pitched seven strong innings to beat the team he started his career with, and Pokey Reese hit a two-run double and made a leaping catch that saved a run in the Boston Red Sox’s 4-1 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Sunday night.

Martinez (7-3) withstood several Dodgers threats after allowing a run in the first as the Red Sox won for the sixth time in eight games. He allowed one run, seven hits and two walks and struck out five.

Keith Foulke pitched the ninth for his 13th save in 15 chances.

Martinez got out of the last scoring threat thanks to a brilliant catch by second baseman Reese. With two outs and a runner on first, Alex Cora hit a sharp single that went off shortstop Nomar Garciaparra’s glove as he tried to backhand it.

Dave Roberts followed with a hard liner toward Reese. Timing his leap perfectly, Reese soared high to grab the ball and end the inning with Boston still leading 4-1.

Martinez reached the majors with the Dodgers in 1992, and pitched 65 games for them – 63 in relief – while going 10-5 with a 2.61 ERA in 1993. Los Angeles traded him to Montreal before the 1994 season, when he became a starter – and went on to win three Cy Young awards.

Reese had given the Red Sox a 4-1 lead with a two-run double that knocked Hideo Nomo (3-7) out of the game in a three-run fourth. Nomo made his second start against the Red Sox since he pitched a no-hitter for them on April 4, 2001, at Baltimore.

Nomar Garciaparra led off the inning with a walk, Kevin Millar was hit by a pitch with one out and Gabe Kapler doubled in a run. Reese doubled in two more with a high drive off the left-field wall.

The Dodgers took a 1-0 lead in the first on a single by Roberts, a sacrifice by Cesar Izturis and a single by Milton Bradley.

Boston tied it in the bottom of the first when Johnny Damon singled, got his 250th career stolen base and scored on a single by Manny Ramirez.

Both teams failed to capitalize on several opportunities.

Bradley was thrown out trying to take second on his first-inning single then was picked off after leading off the fourth with a walk. Replays showed first baseman Millar touched the dirt instead of Bradley, and Bradley argued in vain with first-base umpire Mark Carlson.

Roberts was stranded after a two-out triple in the fifth, and Paul Lo Duca lined out to Reese, who doubled Shawn Green off first in the sixth.

Boston also squandered chances, failing to score with runners at first and third in the third, then stranding a runner at second in the fourth and runners at first and second in the fifth.

Notes: Boston RHP Curt Schilling is scheduled for a third MRI on his sore right ankle Thursday, one day after his expected start at Colorado. … Los Angeles reliever Paul Shuey, on the disabled list with an injured right thumb, threw about 30 pitches before Sunday’s game and said he’s 11/2 weeks away from rejoining the team.

AP-ES-06-13-04 2313EDT