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Red Sox-Rays game erupts in brawl

Posted by Nancy Marrapese-Burrell, Globe Staff June 5, 2008 06:40 PM

Coco Crisp, right, takes a swing at Tampa Bay Rays pitcher James Shields (33) after Crisp was hit by a pitch and charged the mound in the second inning of a baseball game, Thursday, June 5, 2008, in Boston.

(AP Photo)


Coco Crisp expected there might be some payback after Wednesday night's controversial slides into second base. So, when Tampa Bay starter James Shields hit Crisp with a pitch in the second inning, it first appeared Crisp might just go to first base. Instead, Crisp dropped his bat, flipped his helmet and charged the mound. He dodged Shields's punch and then hit Shields before being taken down by catcher Dioner Navarro. Tampa DH Jonny Gomes got in a few shots on Crisp as both dugouts emptied and jumped into the fray. When it was sorted out, Crisp and Shields were ejected. Righthander Grant Balfour took over on the mound for Tampa Bay.

37 comments so far...
  1. Sweet...

    Posted by CoCo June 5, 08 06:52 PM
  1. Coco is a punk for what he just did. There was no need to charge the mound. Francona should not have even started coco today. He's been fired up since last night and just waiting to charge the mound. Someone could have gotten hurt in the scrum. I'm glad he got his butt kicked

    Posted by just have fun June 5, 08 06:59 PM
  1. I hope someone puts one between Gome's numbers.

    Posted by CCGUY June 5, 08 07:02 PM
  1. It may be time to take a look at Tampa Bay Manager Madden. The Sox aren't the first team to have trouble with the Rays this season and maybe even last one. Leadership comes from the top on down.

    Posted by Bob Allen June 5, 08 07:06 PM
  1. Didn't anyone else see last night what happened on Crisp's first stolen base? The shortstop, Bartlett, completely blocked second base with his leg laid down in fornt of the base as Crisp slid in head first. Bartlett didn't even catch the throw as it was way on the shortstop side of the base. As the ball rolled away Crisp was talking to Bartlett, I'm sure saying something along the lines of "If you're going block the base like that I'm going to come in hard feet first. "

    Posted by Mark Szen June 5, 08 07:11 PM
  1. Any video yet?

    Posted by Sox Fan June 5, 08 07:11 PM
  1. AAAAAHHHH...They grow manly men in the Tampa clubhouse...three guys...Gomes...Iwamura...and Crawford all take shots at Crisp as Navarro holds him down!!!

    Posted by Ken June 5, 08 07:13 PM
  1. I used to like Carl Crawford... what was he..the fifth man in???

    Looks like we have NEW rivals, as the yankees are weak and less of a threat these days.

    Posted by Christopher David June 5, 08 07:15 PM
  1. Haha, a little angry for losing first place, huh?

    Madden is to blame for escalating it all with his idiotic comments yesterday.

    Posted by Craig June 5, 08 07:17 PM
  1. LOVE COCO

    Posted by Paul Phalan June 5, 08 07:23 PM
  1. sick! Coco is so B.A.! that guy deserves it, nice!!!

    Posted by anonymous June 5, 08 07:23 PM
  1. Who said Coco couldn't hit.........Ask Shields !!!

    Posted by Tom June 5, 08 07:23 PM
  1. I am dissappointed with the sox desire to get four guys off Coco. Maybe they felt he brought it upon himself. That should have been job #1, not square dancing with bench coaches.

    Posted by Christopher David June 5, 08 07:24 PM
  1. Please grow up, our young children are learning from this ridiculous behavior.

    Posted by rlc June 5, 08 07:25 PM
  1. Throw down, Covelli! Take no BS from those punks.

    Posted by ken in Sarasota June 5, 08 07:26 PM
  1. Did you notice who the first person from Tampa to go after Coco Crisp was. Johnny Gomes. This is nothing new. Gomes is the Devil Rays version of Gabe Kapler, because he's always in the middle of every bench clearing fight. In spring training, when Shelley Duncan slid hard into the Tampa Bay second baseman, Gomes charged Duncan from right field. After Crisp charged the mound and was tackled by the catcher, Gomes went after Crisp and gave him a few solid nuckles.

    Posted by Leverett Ball June 5, 08 07:26 PM
  1. The day the sox get to brawl with TB is a good day! Although ever as sweet as the Yanks!

    Posted by IntSoxFan June 5, 08 07:29 PM
  1. Gomes and Crawford must pay.

    To be continued....

    Posted by Dalton June 5, 08 07:30 PM
  1. Coco is a limp wrist cereal fruit cake, that can't throw a punch. Go "Johnny the hammer Gomes"

    Posted by Geoff colber June 5, 08 07:32 PM
  1. Way to go Coco! Pitchers in the AL should never be able to sit on the mound and throw at batters without ever having to pickup a bat. Punch them in the face instead of jogging to first....

    Posted by EL June 5, 08 07:35 PM
  1. Mama said knock you out!

    Posted by Shazam June 5, 08 07:40 PM
  1. The Red Sox player are whack. They can't even protect his own team. How the hell a DH and Crawford can come over and got so much shot at Coco. The Rays are a bunch of losers!! sucker punch Coco.

    Posted by trey June 5, 08 07:42 PM
  1. ya coco ata boy

    Posted by kevin June 5, 08 07:46 PM
  1. I suppose if I wrote "I love Coco and the Sox", my previous comment(s) would be posted...

    Posted by Pete June 5, 08 07:47 PM
  1. Yet another fine example of a Major League Thug! Is there no sportmanship left in any professional sports team?

    Posted by Dan Chapman June 5, 08 08:22 PM
  1. I'm certainly no fan of brawls, but Maddon's comments are ridiculous if he goes back to spring training and one of his players broke the wrist of a Yankee's prospect when he came in hard to the plate. And that was SPRING TRAINING! We're talking first place in the division here, and he should call a spade a spade.

    Posted by G. Lewis June 5, 08 08:26 PM
  1. A Tit for a Tat just a Cocoa said, seems perfect when it comes to fair play on the sports field.

    Posted by Monica Ricci June 6, 08 08:21 AM

  1. They need to get real jobs.It is a joke getting millions to hit a baseball.How much do those soldiers in Iraq get to dodge bullets? just a bunch of egotistical baseball players.

    Posted by Joe Suggs June 6, 08 09:07 AM
  1. I used to think that Coco was a good guy. After the slide incident I think that deep insid he is really a punk. The Red Sox don't need punks! Give him away to the Mariners.

    Posted by Bill in Philly June 6, 08 11:49 AM
  1. stop the maddness, both teams should have been ejected. I'm talking the game should have just been stopped, and everyone refunded their money. players need to remember some of us have children who like the game and play the game,that's not settin a good example for the younger generation. handle their differences off the mound what a drag

    Posted by tee June 6, 08 12:08 PM
  1. you guys acted like little kids come on seriuosly. you are the best team in the world to me. don't act like your not or i will trade teams. just kidding i would never do that but still try to act your age.

    Posted by carolanne hook June 6, 08 12:43 PM
  1. i am soo cool

    Posted by gisc June 6, 08 03:09 PM
  1. james shields is sucha @#$! #$^%$^ LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSEEEEEEEEEEEERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR

    Posted by micahsoga June 6, 08 03:27 PM
  1. Suspend the whole team - red sox - for their actions. Coco Crisp should be ejected from baseball. He doesn't belong in a uniform - not even a red sox uniform.

    Posted by Kathy June 6, 08 05:58 PM
  1. Suspend the whole team - red sox - for their actions. Coco Crisp should be ejected from baseball. He doesn't belong in a uniform - not even a red sox uniform.

    Posted by Kathy June 6, 08 05:59 PM
  1. Why does everyone think that this is important? These are entertainers, nothing more. No one cares how much Tom Cruise makes, why should we care how much these entertainers make? We pay-per-view to see people beat each other up, why not baseball?

    It is entertainment, they are entertainers, and we are entertained by violence that makes no sense (i.e. WWF etc). Everyone like a good hockey fight, why not a good baseball fight? I say let em go at each other.

    It isn't like it is important. Geez, get your priorities in order.

    Posted by BasketballlessInSeattle June 7, 08 01:14 AM
  1. Everyone has emotions and feelings its how you deal with them and how you channel your feelings they both need to get concelling

    Posted by philly phil June 7, 08 05:22 AM
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