01:00 AM EDT on Wednesday, October 27, 2004

BY STEVEN KRASNER
Journal Sports Writer

ST. LOUIS -- Pedro Martinez wants to return to the Boston Red Sox next year.

The right-hander, who will become a free agent after the season is over, said as much after pitching Boston to a 4-1 victory over St. Louis in Game 3 of the World Series last night to boost the Red Sox to within one win of their first World Championship since 1918.

"I hope this is not the last one," said Martinez after stifling the Cardinals on three hits in seven shutout innings in the first World Series start of his 12-year career.

"I hope I get another chance to come back to the team," said the Dominican Republic native, who made $17.5 million this year. "If I don't, I understand the business part of it. I just hope that many other people understand that I wasn't the one who wanted to leave. I'm only doing what I have to do. And they're going to have their chances to get me back in that uniform. If they don't get me, it's probably because they didn't try hard enough.

"My heart is with Boston. The emotions are always going to be there. I do whatever I can. If it doesn't work out, I will go away with a lot of respect for the team and its management. I've felt that I've represented the city and the team well. And my heart will always be with them."

Martinez, who turned 33 years old on Monday, has gone 117-37 with a 2.52 arned-run average in his seven years with the Red Sox. This season, Martinez went 16-9 with a 3.90 E.R.A. The Red Sox will have 15 days of exclusive negotiating rights to Martinez after the conclusion of the World Series.