BALTIMORE - For most of the night, Pedro Martinez looked like his same, old self.

That, however, just wasn't good enough against the new version of the Baltimore Orioles.

Javy Lopez homered and drove in three runs, and fellow newcomers Rafael Palmeiro and Miguel Tejada both had two hits to lead the Orioles past the Boston Red Sox 7-2 on Sunday night in Lee Mazzilli's first game as Baltimore's manager.

Martinez experienced an uncharacteristic lapse in control while yielding three second-inning runs, and the Red Sox never recovered. It was his third loss in 14 career games against the Orioles and his first defeat in seven opening day starts.

The Orioles last year finished 12th in the 14-team AL in runs scored, but the addition of free agents Tejada, Palmeiro and Lopez has added much-need punch to the lineup.

The trio combined to go 7-for-11 with three runs and four RBIs. Tejada was also perfect on 12 chances at shortstop.

"It's just amazing what a difference a year makes," said No. 6 hitter Jay Gibbons. "You see 3-4-5 all come through tonight - and in the clutch, too. It's just so different."

Martinez gave up three runs, two earned, and seven hits in six innings. He struck out five, walked one and hit a batter.

"The first couple innings he wasn't as strong as he normally is, but after the third inning he became the pitcher that he always is," Lopez said.

It was Martinez's first appearance in a game that counted since Oct. 16, when the three-time Cy Young Award winner blew a 5-2 against the Yankees in Game 7 of the AL championship series, and New York went on to win 6-5 in 11 innings.

Boston ultimately fired manager Grady Little for, among other things, leaving an exhausted Martinez in too long.

Little's successor, Terry Francona, watched the Red Sox strand 14 runners against Sidney Ponson and three relievers in temperatures that dipped into the 30s.

"It's a disappointing way to start," Boston right fielder Gabe Kapler said.

Ponson, the winner, allowed one run, seven hits and three walks in 5 2-3 innings. His fine effort backed his stature as the new staff ace and belied his career numbers against Boston coming in: 1-9 and a 6.56 ERA in 12 games.

B.J. Ryan got five outs for the save.

Asked if he could have written a better script for his first game as a big league manager, Mazzilli said, "I didn't want to face Pedro. But if you hold that team to two runs, you're doing something."

There was some concern among Boston fans this spring that Martinez lost some velocity on his fastball, but on this night the pitch was clocked frequently at 91 mph.

It was his wildness, not his fastball, that got him in trouble in the Orioles' three-run second.

Lopez homered on the first pitch he saw with the Orioles, driving an 89 mph fastball into the left-field seats against Martinez, who gave up only seven homers last season.

Gibbons followed with a single and David Segui was plunked in the back with a pitch before Larry Bigbie hit a tapper in front of the plate that Martinez fielded and threw wildly to first, allowing Gibbons to score. Luis Matos then hit an RBI single.

"After that, man, I tell you what, he buckled down," Francona said. "When it looked like they were going to put up more than three, he gave us a chance to stay in the game."

Baltimore pulled away with a three-run seventh against Mike Timlin. The key hit was a two-run double by Lopez, who went 3-for-4.

Notes: Lopez is 9-for-25 lifetime against Martinez.

... It was Ponson's first win against Boston since 2000. ... The Red Sox started the season with no rookies on the roster. ... Baltimore INF Jose Bautista made his major league debut in the eighth inning as a pinch runner. He scored the Orioles' final run.

AP-ES-04-05-04 0348EDT