Brawl and ejections mar Red Sox-Rays game
BOSTON (Reuters) - Coco Crisp and James Shield were ejected from Thursday's Boston-Tampa Bay game after sparking a bench-clearing brawl at Fenway Park.
After being struck on the hip by a pitch in the bottom of the second inning, Red Sox center fielder Crisp charged the mound, where Rays pitcher Shield failed to connect with a punch.
Television images showed Crisp landing several punches in response before he was tackled to the ground by catcher Dioner Navarro. The benches cleared and a mass brawl erupted.
Tampa Bay designated hitter Jonny Gomes charged from the dugout and jumped on both players before pummeling Crisp to the body.
The game was briefly suspended before Crisp, Shield and Gomes were ejected. Boston went on to win the game 7-1.
Crisp was also involved in an incident during Boston's 5-1 win over Tampa Bay on Wednesday, when he slid in hard on second baseman Akinori Iwamura.
During the fourth inning, Red Sox team mates Manny Ramirez and Kevin Youkilis were seen exchanging words in the dugout. The two were separated by team mates.
"Anyone find a full moon tonight? Crazy stuff going on, just a crazy night at the park," Red Sox first baseman Sean Casey told reporters. "It happens sometimes."
The home win was Boston's 13th in a row.
(Editing by Peter Rutherford) 