Benches clear in Boston
Manny Ramirez homered, drove in five runs and got into a shouting match with a teammate as Boston beat Tampa Bay 7-1 Thursday night in a game that included a bench-clearing brawl between the Red Sox and Rays in Boston.
TV cameras showed Ramirez and Kevin Youkilis being separated after exchanging words in the dugout at the end of the fourth inning. Ramirez pointed at Youkilis before being escorted down the runway toward the clubhouse by trainer Paul Lessard and a few players.
The Red Sox posted their 13th straight home win, matching the majors’ longest streak in nearly two years, and completed their second three-game sweep of the Rays in just more than a month.
The fight started after Boston’s Coco Crisp was hit on the right hip by a second-inning pitch from James Shields. Crisp dropped his bat, charged the mound and ducked a wild right by Shields before throwing a few punches himself.
Crisp was tackled to the ground by Tampa Bay catcher Dioner Navarro. Rays designated hitter Jonny Gomes charged the mound from the dugout, jumped on Navarro and Crisp, and threw several punches that hit Crisp while he was on the ground.
Crisp, Shields and Gomes were ejected.
Two suspended
Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Matt Kemp was suspended for four games and Colorado catcher Yorvit Torrealba was penalized three games following their tussle earlier this week.
Torrealba brushed Kemp from behind before picking up the ball and tagging him lightly in the chest after Kemp had struck out on Tuesday night in Los Angeles. Kemp shoved Torrealba, and the Rockies catcher retaliated by shoving Kemp in the face with both hands.
Kemp and Torrealba wrestled on the infield grass as both benches emptied. Both players were ejected in Colorado’s 3-0 win.
Loewen to bullpen
When Adam Loewen returns to the Baltimore Orioles from an elbow injury, he will pitch in relief for the rest of the season.
Manager Dave Trembley said the coaching staff will be able to monitor Loewen’s pitch count more carefully if he is in the bullpen.