Martinez OK After Latest Throwing Test

Pedro Martinez tested his ailing right shoulder Saturday and emerged from the 60-pitch workout confident he is moving toward rejoining the Boston Red Sox starting rotation.

The three-time Cy Young Award winner has not pitched in a game since June 26 because of inflammation in his shoulder. He threw mostly fastballs during his bullpen session, but also mixed in about 16 or 17 change-ups and a dozen curveballs.

“I felt good,” he said. “The strength is there, everything is there, it’s just a matter of working it. I threw breaking balls for the first time, so I would expect to be erratic. But the fastball and everything was OK.”

Most importantly, there was no discomfort during the session.

“There’s no pain yet. I’m OK, but I’ll wait till tomorrow and see how I feel,” he said. “There will probably be a little soreness.”

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New York Yankee left-hander Ted Lilly dropped his appeal of a six-game suspension and fine Saturday for hitting the Angels’ Scott Spiezio in the helmet with a pitch on Aug. 5.

Lilly will begin serving the suspension immediately and pay a $1,000 fine.

“I made a decision right now to get it taken care of, out of the way, deal with it and move on,” he said.

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Cincinnati Red owner Carl Lindner is scheduled to leave a hospital this weekend after treatment for colitis.

The newspaper, citing unidentified sources, said the 82-year-old Lindner had been hospitalized for several weeks with the disease of the lower colon.

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It’s unlikely Tampa Bay will bring back pitcher Juan Guzman next season, General Manager Chuck LaMar said. Guzman, who signed a two-year, $12.5-million contract as a free agent in 2000, has pitched only 1 2/3 innings for the Devil Rays because of an injured right shoulder. He is currently with triple-A Durham. . . . Texas outfielder Ruben Sierra was activated from the disabled list. Sierra had been on the disabled list since July 27 with a pulled left groin. . . . Pittsburgh sent outfielder Alex Hernandez to triple-A Nashville to clear a roster spot for outfielder Gary Matthews Jr., whom the Pirates claimed from the Chicago Cubs. . . . St. Louis sent infielder Stubby Clapp to triple-A Memphis to make room for infielder Miguel Cairo.