September 16, 2003 ... With Pedro Martinez and David Ortiz setting the pace, the Sox last dispatched the Devil Rays, 3-2, before 33,618 at Fenway Park, tightening their grip on the wild-card lead over the faltering Mariners, who bowed to the Rangers, 10-5, to fall 2 1/2 back of Boston. Especially since the Mariners are down to their final 11 games, including six against the AL West-leading A's. The Sox, with a dozen games to go, are sitting on their largest lead since the wild-card standings began to matter in early August.

Martinez contributed to the good karma by unfurling a complete-game gem, scattering six hits and surviving a last-gasp rally to improve to 13-4. In the process, he strengthened his league leads in ERA (2.34), strikeouts (193), and opponents batting average (.217), among other categories, all but forcing voters to consider him for a fourth Cy Young Award despite his relatively low win total.

Ortiz? All he did was single home Nomar Garciaparra in the bottom of the eighth inning to break a 1-1 tie and propel the Sox toward victory. Bill Mueller helped clinch it moments later with a sacrifice fly that knocked in Adrian Brown, who was running for Manny Ramirez.

Garciaparra set the stage for the decisive rally by cracking a double into the left-field corner leading off the eighth against reliever Travis Harper. After Todd Walker moved Garciaparra to third by grounding to second, Harper intentionally walked Ramirez, bringing up Ortiz.

The Rays summoned lefthander Joe Kennedy to face the left-handed hitting Ortiz, who was hitless in three career at-bats against Kennedy. No sweat. After Kennedy fell behind in the count, 3-and-0, Ortiz kept up the pressure until he laced a 3-and-2 pitch to right to knock in Garciaparra and make it 2-1. Ramirez helped by hustling into third base just ahead of the throw, clearing the way for Mueller to knock in Brown.

Martinez had masterfully escaped threats after the Rays put the leadoff batters in scoring position in the sixth and seventh innings before he proved vulnerable in the eighth. With the Sox leading, 1- 0, Martinez walked Julio Lugo leading off. After Lugo reached second on Toby Hall's ground out, Rays manager Lou Piniella sent out veteran Al Martin to hit for Jared Sandberg, who was a career 0 for 8 against Martinez compared with Martin's 12-for-43 mark. Martin responded by lashing a 2-and-2 pitch toward the right- field corner for a single, knocking in Lugo to forge the 1-1 deadlock. Martinez and catcher Jason Varitek had conferred before the pitch.

The Sox found themselves in a nail-biter largely because of Tampa Bay starter Jeremi Gonzalez, a 28-year-old Venezuelan who nearly matched Martinez's mastery, allowing only one run on three hits before a high pitch count (120) forced him out after six innings. Before Gonzalez underwent two surgeries on his knee and one on his elbow, he showed great promise with the Cubs, going 11-9 in 1997 to post the most wins by a Cubs rookie since Ken Holtzman in 1966. And Gonzalez gave the Sox fits.

As tough as Pedro also was to hit, the Rays took a run at him in the ninth when they scored one run and put the tying run at second with two outs. At that, Little visited the mound, but the crowd began chanting, "Pedro, Pedro." No chant necessary. Petey wasn't about to give him the ball even if he asked for it.

Martinez became the 10th pitcher to win 100 games in a Sox uniform. He improved to 100-28, by far the best winning percentage among the franchise's 100-plus winners. Martinez tossed his third complete game of the season.

 The Sox improved to 24-15 in one-run games and posted their 22d last-at-bat victory. Bill Mueller (1 for 2 with a sac fly) has hit .500 over his last 10 games to raise his league-leading average to .331.  Manny Ramirez broke his club record for right-handed batters by drawing his 26th intentional walk of the season. Ted Williams, a left-handed hitter, set the American League and franchise record with 33 intentional walks in 1957.

Trot Nixon, who has missed six games since he suffered a minor tear in his left calf, took batting practice yesterday against John Burkett, ran the bases, and fielded fly balls. He expressed optimism about returning before the Red Sox' homestand ends tomorrow.