NEW YORK -- Tampa Bay outfielder Gerald Williams was suspended for five games and fined $2,000 for last week's fights against the Boston Red Sox, and four teammates were suspended for three games apiece.

	Williams

Williams was penalized Tuesday for "charging the mound, inciting a bench-clearing incident and returning to the dugout following an ejection," according to the commissioner's office.

Pitchers Dave Eiland, Tony Fiore and Cory Lidle were suspended for three games each and fined for "intentionally throwing at batters after a warning had been issued," and Devil Rays manager Larry Rothschild was suspended for three games and fined for "failing to pre-empt his players' wrongful conduct and for making inappropriate comments during and after the game."

Frank Robinson, baseball's head of discipline, imposed the penalties after reviewing the Aug. 29 game, which was interrupted five times by fights and/or arguments. Boston's Pedro Martinez pitched a one-hitter, taking a no-hitter into the ninth, and eight Devil Rays were ejected.

Rothschild wanted to know why Martinez wasn't suspended.

"The person that precipitated the event walks away," Rothschild said. "I don't know if that is a good precedent."

Martinez was unfazed by Rothschild's comment.

"I started it? Do you think I want to fight Gerald Williams?" he asked. "I have good enough stuff to beat anybody without hitting them."

The players' association appealed the penalties imposed on Williams and Fiore, meaning the suspensions can't start until a hearing before Paul Beeston, baseball's chief operating officer.

"I'll just abide by the decision," Williams said, apparently referring to Beeston.

Lidle started his suspension Tuesday and Rothschild is to start his Wednesday. Eiland's suspension was not scheduled to start until later this week and he probably will make a decision Wednesday on whether to have the union appeal on his behalf.

"I think it is a little stiff," he said.

Fiore and Lidle were more understanding.

"I knew it was coming down sooner or later," Fiore said.

Added Lidle: "I guess it was in the ballpark for what I was expecting."

Williams was ejected for fighting after Martinez hit him on the arm leading off the game and he charged the mound. Boston's Brian Daubach was hit by pitches twice after playing a role in the first-inning fight, during which he hyperextended his left elbow.

"We thought that Daubach was throwing cheap shots in the pile and you have to protect your players," Rothschild said after the game. "You're not going to let that happen, and the only problem was that our pitchers kept missing that guy."

Martinez then retired 24 consecutive batters before John Flaherty singled leading off the ninth.

"Major League Baseball gave them an appropriate penalty," Boston general manager Dan Duquette said. "Thankfully, Pedro was able to keep his feet on the ground and keep his poise and remain in the game."

Eiland was ejected in the third inning for hitting Daubach and Nomar Garciaparra. Lidle and Fiore were tossed during Daubach's at-bat in the seventh.

Daubach has not played since the fight.

"I'm just worried about getting healthy right now. Hopefully, this is the end of an ugly incident," he said after watching his teammates beat Oakland 10-3 in Boston. "We've got some big games coming up against Cleveland and New York. Hopefully I can get back and help the team in those games."