| | Associated Press
BOSTON -- Pedro Martinez withdrew the appeal of his
five-game suspension on Saturday, meaning he will be able to pitch
for the Boston Red Sox on Friday, just one day later than normal.
General manager Dan Duquette made the announcement with one out
in the ninth inning of Boston's 1-0 loss to the Tampa Bay Devil
Rays on Saturday.
"It's better for us that Pedro is focused on his next start
rather than go through the process," Duquette said.
The Red Sox ace was suspended five games on Wednesday and fined
for hitting Cleveland's Robert Alomar in retaliation for a hit
Boston batter. Charles Nagy, who hit Red Sox second baseman Jose
Offerman earlier in the inning, was fined but not suspended.
Martinez appealed the suspension, enabling him to pitch Saturday
and strike out 17 Devil Rays in his first complete game of the
year. He wouldn't comment on the suspension.
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