Pedro Martinez Suspended Five Games

Wednesday, May 3rd 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

BOSTON (AP) â€” Red Sox pitcher Pedro Martinez was suspended for five games Wednesday for hitting Roberto Alomar with a pitch after being warned not to retaliate for an earlier beaning.

Martinez immediately appealed the ruling from Frank Robinson, baseball's vice president of on-field operations.

``I'm hopeful that the suspension will be reduced on appeal,'' Red Sox general manager Dan Duquette said.

Martinez didn't comment on the ruling Wednesday, but said earlier in the week that he did not expect to be punished for his role in two bench-clearing confrontations last Sunday in Cleveland.

``There's no discipline to be issued. There's nothing. There's no fight,'' Martinez said Monday. ``This is all part of the game.''