NEW YORK, Nov. 7 (UPI) -- Oakland Athletics lefthander Barry Zito Thursday was named the American League Cy Young Award winner after leading the junior circuit in wins and his team to a division title.
Zito, the fourth-youngest winner in AL history, edged Boston Red Sox righthander Pedro Martinez, who won the AL honor in 1999 and 2000 and the National League award as a member of the Montreal Expos in 1997.
Zito, just 24, collected 114 points, including 17 of 28 first-place votes, in balloting by the Baseball Writers Association of America. Martinez was second with 96 points and 11 first-place votes, followed by teammate Derek Lowe, who collected 41 points.
Anaheim Angels lefthander Jarrod Washburn received one third-place vote.
Zito has been outstanding and his repertoire is thought to be among the best in baseball. In only his second full season, he emerged as the A's' top starter, going 23-5 with a 2.75 ERA.
"For him to win this award in just his third season in the major leagues is a tribute to his tremendous talent and work ethic," said A's co-owner Steve Schott.
While Martinez led the major leagues in ERA and AL in strikeouts, Zito was the driving force behind Oakland's winning the AL West title, going 12-1 with a 2.83 ERA following A's losses, and 12-2 with a 1.92 ERA in 16 starts after the All-Star break.
Zito had as many strikeouts (182) as hits allowed in 229 1/3 innings. His dominant season allowed him to become the first A's Cy Young winner since closer Dennis Eckersley in 1992, and the fifth Oakland pitcher to receive the honor.
An A's pitcher had finished second in the voting each of the previous two seasons, with Mark Mulder following Roger Clemens of the New York Yankees in 2001 and Tim Hudson placing runner-up to Martinez in 2000.
After battling arm problems for a good chunk of the 2001 season, Martinez regained his health this year. He was his usual dominant self and did some of his best pitching in September, when the Red Sox were battling for a playoff spot.
One thing that might have hurt Martinez is that he made just 30 starts, five fewer than Zito and two fewer than Lowe, but Martinez, 30, finished 20-4 with a 2.26 ERA and allowed just 144 hits with 239 strikeouts in 199 1/3 innings.
Lowe made a spectacular conversion from faltering closer in 2001 to All-Star Game starter last summer. His season was highlighted by a no-hitter on April 27, the first at Fenway Park in nearly 37 years.
Lowe finished 21-8 with a 2.58 ERA. He allowed just 48 walks and 12 homers in 219 2/3 innings, and had 10 starts where he did not allow an earned run.
Lowe also was very tough away from home, going 12-4 on the road. He filled Boston's need for a No. 2 starter.
