TONIGHT

RED SOX’S

PEDRO MARTINEZ

vs.

CARDINALS’

JEFF SUPPAN

*--* THE MATCHUPS 2004 TEAMS/PITCHER W-L ERA TEAM Boston/Martinez (R) 16-9 3.90 21-15 St. Louis/Suppan (R) 16-9 4.16 23-11

*--*

Busch Stadium, St. Louis, 5

TV -- Channel 11. Radio -- KSPN (710).

Update -- A gorgeous autumn Monday in St. Louis -- blue skies and temperatures in the 70s -- was expected to give way to thunderstorms and rain, which could threaten Game 3 or make conditions treacherous. Suppan has been St. Louis’ best pitcher for several weeks, and the Cardinals are counting on the right-hander to extend their home record to 7-0 this postseason. A former Boston pitcher who was left off the team’s division series roster in 2003, Suppan is familiar with many of the Red Sox, though several, including Manny Ramirez (.368, three homers, seven RBIs), Jason Varitek (.429) and Johnny Damon (.357), have had success against him. Martinez, the Boston right-hander, has had success against several Cardinals, including Scott Rolen (.091), Jim Edmonds (.200) and Tony Womack (.077).

*

THE SERIES / Red Sox vs. Cardinals

Red Sox lead best-of-seven series, 2-0.

GAME 1 Boston 11, St. Louis 9

* Bellhorn’s homer in eighth helps the Red Sox overcome four errors and Wakefield’s wildness.

GAME 2 Boston 6, St. Louis 2

* Key hits by Varitek, Bellhorn, Cabrera back Schilling as Red Sox again overcome four errors.

GAME 3 Boston (Martinez, 16-9) at St. Louis (Suppan, 16-9), Tonight, 5:30 Ch. 11

GAME 4 Boston (Lowe, 14-12) at St. Louis (Marquis, 15-7), Wednesday, 5:15 p.m. Ch. 11

GAME 5* Boston at St. Louis Thursday, 5:15 p.m. Ch. 11

GAME 6* St. Louis at Boston Saturday, 4:45 p.m. Ch. 11

GAME 7* St. Louis at Boston Sunday, 4:45 p.m. Ch. 11

* if necessary

*

-- Mike DiGiovanna