Brawl in Beantown

Red Sox centerfielder Coco Crisp did say it could be "tit for tat."

Just one night after Crisp's hard, late-slide into Akinori Iwamura, Rays starter James Shields plunked him with a pitch in the right leg during his first at-bat in the second inning Thursday.

Crisp rushed the mound, starting a benches - and bullpen - clearing brawl, reminscent of the one in spring training against the Yankees. This one resulted in three ejections, including Shields, Crisp and, like in the Yankees one, Jonny Gomes.

After getting hit with a breaking ball, Crisp took a slow step toward first, stutter stepped before tossing his helmet off and sprinting toward Shields. Shields, who tossed off his cap, too, wound up and missed Crisp with a right punch. Crisp connected with Shields before getting tackled by Dioner Navarro; Jonny Gomes, once again, came in and punched Crisp a few times on the ground, with Carl Carwford came from the dugout steps to get a few punches, too.

Both benches converged on the mound, trying to hold each other back. It took several minutes to sort it out.

But as Crisp, ejected, walked off the field to a standing ovation, Shields - also ejected - walked off to roars of boos.

For the Rays, Shields and Gomes were ejected. Crisp was the only Red Sox ejection.

Grant Balfour is in to pitch for the Rays in an unexpected long relief appearance. Crisp was replaced by Chris Carter whom, as fate turns out, will be making his major league debut.

How did this all start?

Crisp said he made the hard-slide into Iwamura Wednesday to "send a message," after he felt Jason Bartlett made a "shady" play by dropping his knee to block second base during Crisp's stolen base attempt. Crisp ended up jamming his left hand, but was clearly upset with Bartlett.

Bartlett said today that he was surprised Crisp reacted that way, as he didn't drop his knee to intentionally hurt Crisp, it was just an instinctual play he does when he has to dig for a ball in the dirt to his left.

Crisp's later slide into Iwamura drew the ire of Rays manager Joe Maddon, who was fuming when he came out of the dugout for a pitching change in the eighth on Wednesday. Maddon pointed at the Red Sox dugout and had a long-distance exchange with Crisp, who stood on the Red Sox dugout steps and, according to him, yelled that if they want to take it out on anybody, take it out on him.

Was last night the end of it, or could this turn into something larger? Iwamura said it was over last night, and Crisp hoped it was too, but didn't deny something could come of it...

“I’ll take mine if they want to come back after me for some reason. It’s tick for tack right now,” Crisp told reporters Wednesday. “If they want to come after me with a little extra bonus or whatever . . . it keeps on going back and forth, tick for tack."

Thursday's brawl wasn't the first hint of bad blood between the franchises; here's a short look into history:

Update 8:04 pm Carl Crawford was hit by a pitch from Jon Lester in the fifth, but there were no fireworks this time. Crawford didn't look happy, but that also could be because the Rays are down 7-1 and headed for a sweep.

-- JOE SMITH

joesmith@sptimes.com

BAD BLOOD
There have been a number of heated incidents between the Devil Rays and Red Sox. Among the highlights:
Aug. 29, 2000: Boston's Pedro Martinez hits leadoff man Gerald Williams, igniting the first of two bench-clearing brawls and setting the tone for a night in which eight Rays are ejected.

Sept. 29, 2000: Tampa Bay's Roberto Hernandez strikes out Trot Nixon to end the game that eliminates the Red Sox, then waves goodbye to them from the mound. "They're going home," Hernandez says. "They don't have to worry about any playoffs now. They can stop watching now. Scoreboard's over. Goodbye."

May 5, 2002: Tampa Bay's Ryan Rupe hits Nomar Garciaparra and Shea Hillenbrand in the first inning. The next inning, Trot Nixon's bat "slips out" of his hand and flies toward Rupe, earning Nixon a four-game suspension. Boston pitcher Frank Castillo later hits Randy Winn and is suspended five games.

SEPT. 9-10, 2002: With the umpires on notice from MLB about the potential for trouble, Boston pitcher Derek Lowe and manager Grady Little are ejected after Lowe hits Felix Escalona the first night, then Rays pitcher Lee Gardner and manager Hal McRae are tossed the next night after Gardner hits Lou Merloni. Umpire Jerry Crawford says: "(MLB) feels it is one of the more serious situations going on in the game today."'

Sept. 27, 2004: Boston's Bronson Arroyo hits Aubrey Huff and Tino Martinez, then Tampa Bay's Scott Kazmir hits Manny Ramirez and Kevin Millar in consecutive at-bats, leading to a bench-clearing gathering. Kazmir and manager Lou Piniella are ejected.

April, 24 2005: After five batters are hit in the first two games and Aubrey Huff is hit Sunday, tempers flare when Lance Carter throws a pitch at David Ortiz's head, leading to a bench-clearing incident and the ejections of Nixon and Dewon Brazelton, along with Carter and Piniella. Arroyo then hits Chris Singleton, and is ejected along with manager Terry Francona.

July 18, 2005: Piniellla had an explosive reaction to a reversal of a ninth inning call by umpire Dana DeMuth, charging onto the field, screaming at the umpires enough to get ejected, and throwing his hat across the diamond. DeMuth had changed his call after a lengthy protest by Curt Schilling, who may have bumped DeMuth.

March 27, 2006: Red Sox reliever Julian Tavarez started a benches-clearing brawl by punching Joey Gathright in the face when the Rays outfielder was down after an eighth-inning play at the plate. By the time it was over, the benches and bullpen emptied, and Tavarez and Gathright were ejected.

June 5, 2008: Coco Crisp's hard slide into Akinori Iwamura the night before boils over when Rays starter James Shields hits Crisp with a pitch in the second inning. The beches- and bullpens- clear in a brawl, with Shields, Crisp and Jonny Gomes, getting ejected.

Comments

[To Captain Obvious]

hey captain obvious then why do they have fans travel to every single game they go to. I would think that the rays fans are ten times worse because i have never seen a rays fan at fenway park but ive been to tropicana and seen thousands of red sox fans at tropicana. all i saw were red sox fans.

[Captain Obvious]

Red Sox fans are the worst fans in professional sports today.

[Bill]

Is same sex marriage legal in Massachusettes but illegal in Florida? Nuf said.

[Love Tiger]

Hey Redsox Nation go to hell, you say were uneducated baseball fans and your the ones who couldnt find a succesfull GM for 80 years to take to the promise land, and quit calling us faggots and little girls cause your the ones who live in massasuckets were that what they all do there. Grow up theres a changing of the guard and you know it. Join on the bandwagon before its too full.
Rays Fan since 98

[angrybuddha]

"As for the Rays sweeping the Sox in Tampa, unless you've got Kazmir pitching all three games, don't put any money on it."

Hey Zippy... Already happened. And Kaz was on the DL at the time.

[to melissa]

should have prepared for the day when their players aged and crumbled? drafting good players consistently and getting them to the pros is not preparing for veterans to leave. Getting guys like Jacoby Ellsbury, ROY Dustin Pedroia, Jon Papelbon, Jon Lester, Clay Bucholz, Kevin Youklis all through the draft. And having all those guys on our 25 man roster playing with the exception of bucholz is not preparing for the future. You dont know what you are talking about. Justin Masterson another Sox draftee is 3-0. We currently have nine draftees on our roster, the oldest of them are like 26 or 27.

[melissa]

I love reading these boards. Its nice to see the bosox fans so concerned over lil 'ole us. I almost feel bad for them. Their team is crumbling around them. Its beautiul to watch. Blame the Ray's fans for your woes. We can handle it. You may want to look within your own team though. Bosox management should have prepared for the day when their players aged and crumbled.

[Florida Fan]

Do the Rays HAVE fans????? The BIG news before your manager tried to "fire up his team" by going after Coco was the 13,000 people in attendance at a game last week. XM Radio called it "embarassing" and "shameful". Just might see ME at Tropicana Toilet wearing red...something I wouldn't have done before because I felt sorry for the Rays. Not any more. I'm sure tickets will be available day of game...

[Raymond]

8-0 Seattle???? What was that? A little let down? Hmmm...Appears the bosux do have the Rays on their mind. Rays appear to have just moved on...Very nice chowds...

[Zippy]

So the Rays fans feel that because this is the 1st year that their team doesn't suck, that the Sox are worried? Hell no!

Leading a division in June means NOTHING. I know you're all excited that maybe this is your year. It's not. With the Rays history, you should just hope for a 3rd place finish.

Now onto the issue at hand, Coco should have quietly taken his base instead of charging the mound. But, the plate blocking knee was a total BS play. I know the Rays want to do well this year, but cheating isn't the way to do it.

As for the Rays sweeping the Sox in Tampa, unless you've got Kazmir pitching all three games, don't put any money on it.

[The FCAT has failed us]

That is all.

[red sox fan]

i will enjoy my summer watching the sox at Fenway on nesn. i have baseball skills more than you, you thought randy johnson got most of his hall of fame credentials in Seattle. dont tell me to change the subject when you change it after i prove you wrong by showing you where he got all his awards and what hat wade boggs is wearing the hall of fame.

[A Baseball Fan]

"and when do i refer to baseball starting in 2004."

Just realized I was arguing with a 13 year old. Enjoy your summer vacation.

[redsox fan]

to bad boggs wears a red sox hat in the hall of fame. Yea a red sox hat. and Johnson won his world series with the diamond backs and thats who he got his world series co mvp and thats where he got four of his five cy youngs. half of his all star appearances with the d backs . so you know it seems thats where he got most of his hall of fame credentials. and when do i refer to baseball starting in 2004.

[Baseball Fan]

You brought up Beckham when you were called out on your lack of baseball and english skills.

[A Baseball Fan]

If signing a guy that is already on a Hall-of-Fame track in free agency is all you need, then I guess Wade Boggs counts as a Rays Hall-of Famer? And of course Clemens is another Yankee Hall-of-Famer.

Johnson spent 10 years with the Mariners. Again, baseball didn't start in 2004.

[redsox fan]

when did i change the subject with beckham. that was after i responded, but would you care to retaliate to that

[A Baseball Fan]

The only thing I know about you is that you came onto an opposing teams message board, spewed a bunch of nonsense, and changed the subject when you were called out on it. That's all I need to know.

If you are indeed representative of the Nation, I feel sorry for the State of your Union.

[A Baseball Fan]

The only thing I know about you is that you came onto an opposing teams message board, spewed a bunch of nonsense, and changed the subject when you were called out on it. That's all I need to know.

If you are indeed representative of the Nation, I feel sorry for the State of your Union.

[red sox fan]

i would assume that you know with number two all time on the k's list and a co world series mvp that randy johnson would go in as a diamondback wearing a diamondback hat. i just thought that would be safe to assume. i apologize maybe for you to understand i shouldve used future hall of famers.

[red sox fan]

by the way i love how beckham yesterday was even wearing a tampa bay rays hat. that was a devil rays hat from last year. did you guys have like a bunch of left overs so you gave one to him. I thought he was playing for the rays not the devil rays. by the way baseball fan i have been a red sox fan from birth. you dont know anything about me. and dont attack me for making mistakes you guys are the ones that have said we only one two world series and had a 100 year drought when it was really 86.

[A Baseball Fan]

Really?

Name me the Diamondbacks that have been inducted into the HOF. I'd be really interested to hear your list.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/ARI/hof.shtml

[Red Sox Fan]

My point with the tampa bay arizona thing was that arizona has a huge fan base and a world series title and hall of famers while your fans on this comment board are complaining they need 120 years to gain prestige. I said that the Rockies have had little time but have accomplished much. Unlike you guys who have had ten years but haven't done anything but get a bevy of #1 picks. And the nationals once they got to WAshington got a stadium in three years if my memory serves me correctly. sorry that this is probably gramitically incorrect.

[Red Sox Fan]

sorry i dont speak proper english. i thought this was an informal comment page where i could write freely. Here, is this proper grammar. Why dont you attack everybody else who doesnt use proper grammar. i could find several people on this page who dont use proper grammar. i apologize for my incorrect grammar and im sorry it offends you.

[Baseball Fan]

P.S.

It took the Expos/Nationals over 30 years to get an outdoor stadium.

[A Baseball Fan]

I though Red Sox Fans were supposed to know their baseball.

"there are teams that havent even been around as long as you have and they have a bigger fan bases"

Diamondbacks - Could've fooled me, since Tampa Bay and Arizona started playing baseball on the SAME DAY.

Nationals - Guess you weren't aware that they had a different name before 2005 (Expos), and started play in 1969.

Rockies - Started play in 1993.

But wait I forgot. Baseball history for you started in October of 2004, when you exchanged in your Yanks hat.

[Literate]

Red Sox Fan:
Before talking so much smack, try advancing to at least a third grade reading/writing level. Trying to decipher your posts is painful.

[Red Sox Fan]

and also bill to correct you for like the fiftieth time today the red sox endured 86, eight six , years of losing. you said they endured 100's years of losing.

[Red Sox Fan]

also the rockies are a team that comes to mind when i think of teams that havent been around that long but have accomplished much

[Red Sox Fan]

there are teams that havent even been around as long as you have and they have a bigger fan bases

the diamond backs

the nationals

not to mention they all have outdoor stadiums because of there fan bases and it didnt take them long to get them

also the cubs have endured years of losing and they sell out every game at wrigley but there nation isnt as big as our nation

[Bill]

Give the Rays 120 years to build a fan base and it won't even be close..........the nation is a just a sad nation because of their 100 year losing streak.

[Red Sox Fan]

hey maybe the red sox are leading in six categories because we just have a hell of a lot of fans. that and maybe they deserve to go. did you ever think of that edgar. maybe its a combination of awesome players and fans all over the country who love the sox and all of new england loving the sox. not because we are ballot stuffers.

[Red Sox Fan]

COCO YOU ARE THE MAN

GO SOX !!!
GO SOX !!!
GO SOX!!!

RED SOX RULE !!!!!!!!

[the sox rule]

Hey i support my team thats all i can say. i dont know what i can say about you but i like to show the support for my players on my team because they are the only ones that i cheer for and if i want to vote for them in the all star game to show support than i can to that. and to angry buddha that said i was enjoying the world series in the early twentieth century, i wasnt i was just proving to this dumb rays fan that the rays have one seven world series not two. at no point what so ever did i say i cheered for those teams. though those teams are historic and had very talented players.

[Edgar]

hey red sox fan, I have been a true fan for 10 years. Let's get the facts straight. Ballot stuffers are not true fans, it is about a popularity contest. Red Sox fans will even vote for backup players that don't deserve to be there; please. I am a true Rays fan and I don't have to stuff ballot like you red sox bandwagon, i mean red sox dope. I vote for who deserves to be in the all star not to be a winsock homer.
RAYS ALL THE WAY!!!!

[Edgar]

hey red sox fan, I have been a true fan for 10 years. Let's get the facts straight. Ballot stuffers are not true fans, it is about a popularity contest. Red Sox fans will even vote for backup players that don't deserve to be there; please. I am a true Rays fan and I don't have to stuff ballot like you red sox bandwagon, i mean red sox dope. I vote for who deserves to be in the all star not a winsock homer.
RAYS ALL THE WAY!!!!

[Bill]

Hey Frank, where were you sitting in 1903, 1912, 1915, 1916, and 1918? I must have missed you. I was in the front row.

You have 2 world series more than the Rays since 1919......way to go!

[Frank]

So, let me understand this correctly. You can only like a team if you live in the same city as they play. Wow, that makes a lot of sense--and explains why rays fans are as sterile as their team is.

[angrybuddha]

"the sox have world series in 1903 1912 1915 1916 1918 2004 and 2007"

I bet you're super proud of those first 5 series. Way to go, man. You were rooting for them way back then? How was it when the motor car made it mainstream? What was it like fighting the Kaiser? You remember the old Babe Ruth days? That's awesome.

Livin' in the past, man.

[Mike]

You're a mark Frank! Why don't you try rooting for your HOMETOWN team? You probably are a NY Giants fan, LSU fan and Detroit Red Wings fan too. A REAL FAN supports the team of the town he grew up with. You frauds are a joke. All you do is water down your teams fanbase. Grab your Cubs hats because they might be in the World Series this year marks!

[Ben]

Wow, some of these comments are pathetic by both sides. Now a couple of things should be taken out of this:

1) Coco overreacted to Bartlett, but still his position did suggest he was blocking the bag, it's more courtesy in baseball to not do that at second. The defender doesn't block the bag, the runner doesn't spike. There is an unspoken ettiquette to baseball.
2) Coco's takeout slide was bad form, the correct response in baseball is getting your pitcher to intentionally throw at someones leg or even just a brushback.
3) Maddon was completely out of line shouting at Crisp from the mound. Save that for media barbs. Managers are peacemakers on the field.
4) Shields did right, but coupled with Maddon's reaction the previous day, he had to see it was going to provoke a fight.
5) Gomes was out of line. He's attacking Coco on the ground, a guy who is about half his strength while Navarro is holding onto Coco.

There, now everybody shut up and enjoy the fight... I mean baseball season.

[the sox rule]

aki said something when he came in throwing little flismy girl punches when coco was on the ground. and when he acted like a baby when shelley duncan slid into him. hey mm what proof do you have for what you said. new england has always supported boston teams. we watch the games. we have nesn or our fans buy the mlb extra innings packages so that our fans all over the country can watch the game. you guys are just upset that our fans come on your message board and make our voices heard.

[frank]

Isn't it funny! Notice how many times these baseball, AA loving wannabes suggest that Boston fans are new and only following a winner (and really where's the harm in that). Fact is I am a life long fan and live in neither Boston nor floriDUH. This is the best they can do, attack your motives for loving a winning organization without knowing anything about you.

The rays are like mules: born sterile.

[mm]

When did Aki say anything? you loseres run your mouths and didn't even watch the games.

[mm]

Dedicated fans? travel with the team? WHATEVER! Most of you so-called "fans" turned in your Yankees hats for your Boston hats after '04. Most of you couldn't fins Bahston on a map. Give it up bandwagoners!

[the sox rule]

hey weren't you guys bitching about the yankees in spring training a few months ago. i guess you guys are just immature little kids who like to start fights. o yea thats not the first time akinroa iwamura threw a temper tantrum and acted like a baby when somebody slid into him. when shelley duncan did it he had the same reaction. maddon i guess is a baby to, a little contact and he spaz's out. those hard slides are just trying to get the ball loose. for some reason rough contact baseball is foreign to the rays. the yanks didnt get mad when your player broke there catchers wrist in a collision at home. to you guys that was a clean play. i guess you guys can dish it but you cant take it.

[JimC]

There are more Rays fans posting on this board than actually go to the games.Nice team you have down there.Gotta love guys like Gomes who starts "throwing" punches when Coco is down and can't defend himself same with Carlene Crawford...He comes skipping in from left field to throw more cheap shots.Douchebags.Hope you guys had fun in first.Maybe you should have a parade for those assclowns.

[What did we do]

hey karma what did we do

we slid and your baby of a second baseman cried

your pitcher threw at coo and rightfully so coco retaliated

this fight was between coco and and james but for some reason iwamura gomes and crawford decided to join and scratch and pull cocos hair. thats what girls do in cat fights. real men punch. shields tried to punch but he missed. since he missed the rest of your players had to be cheap and pull his hair and scratch his face.

[Karma]

I'm coming to get you Coco.

I'm coming for you jerks from Boston too.

Not even the Yankees play with less class.

[a red sox fan]

Hey Bill you are an idiot

previously we established that the sox have world series in 1903 1912 1915 1916 1918 2004 and 2007

Now if you can comprehend this complicated math than you will see that we have six world series in the past 100 years

If 100 years ago was 1908 than six, six world series titles fall in between 1908 and 2008. You are dumb. Dont talk and insult unless there is logic behind your argument.

By the way if you look at the license plates at the Rays games in St. Pete You see plates from Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island. the only way to see a sox game for those fans is to travel because the sox are so loved that all there games are sell outs.

GO SOX!!!! GO SOX!!!! GO SOX!!!! GO SOX!!! GO SOX!!!! GO SOX!!!! GO SOX!!! i said go sox seven times, seven, because we have seven world series. previously you said we have two, but you were wrong.