BOSTON (AP) – Pedro Martinez didn’t have to wait long to find out he’s been missed in Boston.

The three-time Cy Young Award winner was called from the dugout by the Fenway Park crowd on Tuesday night with chants of “Pedro!” and a standing ovation during the second inning of the game against the New York Mets.

Martinez, who is scheduled to start Game 2 of the series tonight, popped to the top of the dugout, waved to the crowd and mimed a big hug.

“It’s been two years, and I still feel like they miss me. And it’s a mutual feeling,” he said before the game. “I saw 86 years of agony for the fans here. They were here every day. That’s why they have so much of my respect.

“Whatever they do, I believe they are going to do it for one reason, from their hearts. If they cheer for me, I’ll be happy.”

But there was also the possibility they would boo Martinez for leaving, like they did former Red Sox center fielder Johnny Damon after he signed with the New York Yankees.

“He went to the wrong uniform,” Martinez said. “Thank God I didn’t have to make the same mistake.”

But his former team pre-empted any chance of a chilly welcome when they put up on the scoreboard, “The Boston Red Sox extend a warm welcome back to Pedro Martinez. Welcome back and welcome always.”

Martinez went 117-37 with a 2.52 ERA in seven years with the Red Sox, winning two of his Cy Young awards and helping the Red Sox win the 2004 World Series. But he left that winter when the Mets offered him four guaranteed years, something the Red Sox wouldn’t do.

“I was sad at first,” he told reporters in an overstuffed media room before the game. “My life had to go on and the Red Sox had to go on. That was a business decision.”

Martinez received an equally warm welcome from his former teammates. Stopping by the Red Sox clubhouse before the game, he greeted old teammates David Ortiz, Manny Ramirez, Trot Nixon and Jason Varitek.

“I wanted to walk in but at the same time you have to respect the other team and their privacy,” he said.

Instead, “I just looked in the door and started screaming everybody’s name.”

Today’s start will be Martinez’s first appearance at Fenway Park against the Red Sox.

“I just have good memories,” he said. “I still feel like I belong.”

AP-ES-06-27-06 2029EDT