Projo Sox Blog

BY SEAN McADAM
Journal Sports Writer

ST. PETERSBURG -- What would a Red Sox-Rays game be without a hit batsman or three and some controversy?

After Tampa Bay starter Scott Kazmir hit Jason Varitek to lead off the second inning, home plate umpire Jerry Meals immediately warned both benches, no doubt influenced by the teams' history, which included a bench-clearing brawl at Fenway in June.

As it happened, two more hit batsman were recorded, but neither resulted in an ejection by Meals: Daisuke Matsuzaka hit Evan Longoria to lead off the fourth and rookie Mitch Talbot got Mike Lowell in the sixth.

Neither, apparently, convinced Meals that the pitches were intentional.

"I was shocked [by the warning]," said Terry Francona. "I thnk Joe [Maddon] was, too. I wasn't ready for that. I'm glad it didn't get in the way of the game. But Daisuke was one pitch away from that [warning] getting in the way."

 Tags  Boston Red Sox Daisuke Matsuzaka Jason Varitek Terry Francona

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