 09/27/2003 9:17 PM ET
Suppan struggles in final start
Right-hander will work out of bullpen in ALDS
By Ian Browne / MLB.com
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ST. PETERSBURG -- A game that didn't mean anything in the standings meant quite a bit to Red Sox right-hander Jeff Suppan.
Saturday night was Suppan's last chance to persuade manager Grady Little that he is worthy of starting a game in the postseason.
That said, it wasn't quite the outing Suppan was looking for. He was rocked for four runs in the first inning. And though he settled down, he ended up taking a 5-4 loss to the Devil Rays Saturday night at Tropicana Field.
The right-hander went six innings and allowed eight hits and five runs. It typified most of the outings he's had since being re-acquired by the Sox on July 31, in that it was up and down.
While Little has tabbed Pedro Martinez, Tim Wakefield and Derek Lowe as the starters for the first three games of the Division Series, he is keeping his options open for Game 4.
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