BOSTON (AP) – The Boston Red Sox are expecting more games like this from Pedro Martinez in the second half of the season.

That’s why they’re letting him get a head start.

“We’re trying to set up the second half where we can run these guys out there a lot,” manager Terry Francona said Wednesday night after the Red Sox beat the Oakland Athletics 11-3 thanks to seven strong innings from Martinez in his final start before the All-Star break.

Nomar Garciaparra, Manny Ramirez and Mark Bellhorn homered

to help Boston amass 22 runs on 32 hits in the first two games of the series. The Red Sox won consec

utive games for the first time since June 17-18.

“Man, it’s been three weeks?” center fielder Johnny Damon said. “We feel like we can take off. It’s probably a good time to start.”

Martinez (9-3) allowed one earned run on five hits and a walk, striking out seven. He gave up three runs in the third before settling down and facing one batter above the minimum over the next four innings.

The three-time Cy Young winner could have pitched a day earlier on his regular rest and then again on Sunday before the break. But Red Sox management decided to give him an extra day