17 Strikeouts Equal 1-0 Loss

When Pedro Martinez tried to support his teammates, he got suspended. When they failed to support him, he picked up a loss.

The Boston Red Sox ace matched a career high with 17 strikeouts on Saturday but was outdueled by Steve Trachsel, who pitched a three-hit shutout to lead the Tampa Bay Devil Rays to a 1-0 victory.

“He goes out there and pitches that way and we can’t score one run to support him,” Red Sox first baseman Brian Daubach said. “I feel almost as bad as last year, when we lost in the playoffs.”

The loss ended Martinez’ 13-game winning streak, and he’ll have an extra day to stew over it: The Red Sox announced in the ninth inning that he withdrew the appeal of his five-game suspension and will start serving it today. He is scheduled to pitch Friday, one day later than normal, against the Baltimore Orioles.

“Probably the best thing to do is move on, put things behind us,” Boston Manager Jimy Williams said. “Go ahead and serve the five games and then pitch.”

Martinez (5-1) fanned six batters through two innings and had 12 strikeouts after five. The 17 strikeouts were the most in the majors this season and matched Martinez’s 17-strikeout effort in a one-hitter against the New York Yankees last Sept. 10.

“When he took the mound, he decided he wasn’t going to give an inch,” said Trachsel (2-2), who walked three and struck out a career-high 11 for the third shutout of his career. “I knew it was going to be a tough game. A guy at the hotel said, ‘You’ve got Pedro tomorrow. Good luck.’ ”

Martinez was making his scheduled start despite receiving a five-game suspension on Wednesday, three days after he intentionally hit Roberto Alomar of the Cleveland Indians with a pitch.

He was allowed to pitch pending the appeal.