SPORTSTICKER AL PREVIEW (TORONTO-BOSTON) BOSTON (Ticker) -- Red-hot Pedro Martinez looks to become the first nine-game winner in the majors today as the surging Boston Red Sox look to complete a three-game sweep of the Toronto Blue Jays. Martinez (8-1, 1.89 ERA) also is going for his eighth straight double-figure strikeout game and seventh straight victory. The righthander posted a 6-3 victory over the New York Yankees in his last outing on Tuesday, despite allowing 10 hits and four walks over seven innings. But Martinez fanned 11, giving him a major league high 102 strikeouts, including 84 in his last seven outings. He became the first pitcher to record at least 10 strikeouts in seven straight starts since Nolan Ryan accomplished the feat for the California Angels in 1977. Second in the American League in ERA behind New York's David Cone, Martinez has allowed only seven runs over 46 2/3 innings during his winning streak. He has a 2-1 career mark against the Blue Jays. John Valentin hit his first grand slam in over four years and drove in five runs Saturday as the Red Sox defeated the Blue Jays, 6-4. Valentin, who had four hits, belted his third career grand slam and first since May 2, 1995. Rookie Trot Nixon produced his first career four-hit game for the Red Sox, who have won 13 of their 16 contests. Boston is 10-2 in its last 12 contests at home. Toronto counters with righthander Pat Hentgen (4-1, 4.44), who is seeking his fifth straight victory. Hentgen has gone 4-0 in his last five starts after going 0-1 in his first four. He posted a 7-5 victory over Detroit in his last appearance on Tuesday, yielding five runs -- four earned -- and six hits over 6 2/3 innings. Hentgen has allowed 14 of his 26 earned runs in the first inning this season and his last start was no different as the Tigers jumped out to 3-0 lead in the opening frame. He has won nine of 15 career decisions against Boston. The Blue Jays have dropped three straight and are just 9-20 in their last 29 games after opening the season 12-4. Toronto also has lost five of its last six meetings with the Red Sox.  