09:29 AM EDT on Thursday, September 30, 2004

BY SEAN McADAM
Journal Sports Writer

AP photo Red Sox' Pedro Martinez, delivering a pitch in the first inning last night against Tampa Bay, suffered his ninth loss of the season.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Far from Fenway Park, in a performance that was hardly typical of his magical career in Boston, Pedro Martinez just might have made his final regular-season start for the Red Sox here last night.

Martinez is a free agent and has yet to agree to a contract extension with the Red Sox.

"I kept telling (my teammates), 'You never know, this might be my last outing,' " Martinez recounted after Boston's 9-4 loss. "But people didn't make a big deal about it. As ugly as it was (5 innings, 10 hits, 5 earned runs), that could be it."

But in his next breath, Martinez offered an optimistic outlook on his chances of remaining with the Sox.

"I'm actually positive that I'm going to sign with Boston again," he said. "I just hope they don't disrespect me or anything when we're negotiating because that will be my turning point. I've been pitching, I've been healthy. There's no need to go anywhere else.

"If they want to try to get something done, I'm going to give them that chance. The fact that I'm giving them a chance is good enough to tell them that we should get something done."

It's Pedro in Game 2

Martinez was told he will be the Game 2 playoff starter, with Curt Schilling getting the opening-game assignment. Meanwhile, Derek Lowe may have sealed his fate with yet another poor performance here Tuesday night. Over his last three starts, Lowe has pitched just 8 1/3 innings, allowing 21 hits and compiling a 16.27 E.R.A.

The Sox may view Lowe as too big a risk in the postseason. Additionally, his experience in the bullpen may enable him to transition to a relief role.

That leaves Bronson Arroyo and Tim Wakefield -- in no particular order -- as the starters for Games 3 and 4.

Suspension reduced

Pitcher Pedro Astacio appealed his three-game suspension, handed out Tuesday for throwing behind Kenny Lofton Sunday, and had it reduced by a game.

Astacio elected to begin serving the suspension last night. The second and final game will be served tomorrow night, enabling Astacio to be ready to start one of the two games of Saturday's doubleheader in Baltimore.

one line

Manny Ramirez extended his hitting streak to 10 games with a first-inning double, but left the contest in the fifth after drawing a walk, replaced by Adam Hyzdu.

Ramirez's hamstring has been acting up of late, and manager Terry Francona wanted to be cautious.

"He's tender," said Francona, "and we don't want him to be tender. I don't want him dragging that leg. We're not going to mess with it."

About the Expos . . .

The official announcement that the Expos are leaving Montreal for Washington, D.C., was hardly a surprise, but the news hit home for Francona and shortstop Orlando Cabrera, who played 5 1/2 seasons in Montreal until being dealt to the Sox at the trading deadline.

"I think they had to (move)," said Francona, who spent his first five seasons in the big leagues playing in Montreal. "I was there in the good days. They love the Expos; they were crazy about them. But I'm sure the 1994 fiasco (when a strike canceled the final six weeks of the season and the postseason when the Expos were one of the N.L.'s best teams) was the beginning of the end.

"It's a shame. But I guess it's in everybody's best interest to move on."

Added Cabrera: "For the people of Montreal, it's a tough situation. But it's something that was eventually going to happen. (The fans) were prepared. They should have had a stadium built, but they didn't have the money. It wasn't really a baseball town. They tried, but they were losing too much money."

Kapler replaces Roberts

Minutes before game time, Dave Roberts, set to give Johnny Damon a night off from center field duties, was himself scratched from the lineup and replaced by Gabe Kapler.

Roberts left for personal reasons. It was unclear at game time how long he would be absent from the club.

Baldelli on leave

Tampa Bay outfielder -- and Rhode Island native -- Rocco Baldelli left the Devil Rays to attend to a personal family matter. He'll also miss the doubleheader with the Detroit Tigers scheduled here for today, but is expected to rejoin the club in Detroit for the final series of the season.

Around the bases

Martinez's start last night was his 201st as a member of the Sox, moving him into a tie for 10th place all time with Frank Sullivan . . . Kevin Millar, plunked for the second time in two games Tuesday night, is second in the American League in being hit by pitches with 16. That's the most for a Sox player since Don Baylor, who was hit 24 times in 1987.