Rays Evan Longoria wishes he had been hit

By now, the whole baseball world, and probably the whole world of sports, is aware that things got heated between the Red Sox and Rays again on Friday night. After two hit batsmen, the benches cleared in Fenway and the Red Sox suffered three manager ejections.

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Rays’ pitcher David Price had a vendetta on his mind Friday night as he took to plunking Boston designated hitter David Ortiz in the back. While initial perception was that Price was retaliating for the scrum that took place earlier in the week between the two teams in Tampa Bay, word got around that Price was more upset at Ortiz for his home run in 2013’s American League Division Series. Price allowed two homers to Ortiz in Game 2 and was reportedly upset at the time it took Big Papi to round the bases. Price apologized to Ortiz the following day.

That was just the first issue, as Ortiz was noticeably upset, thinking that the Division Series issue was long gone. Warnings were issued, but with intent clear upon delivery, Boston manager John Farrell was upset that Price hadn’t been ejected. The pitch that resulted in the benches being cleared was again from Price to Mike Carp and again, the umpiring crew felt that there was no intent displayed.

The Red Sox were able to retaliate immediately with a two-run homer from Xander Bogaerts the next inning, but it was apparently deemed not enough. Brandon Workman, who was on in relief, threw a pitch very clearly aimed at Rays’ third baseman Evan Longoria, but missed and the pitch sailed behind Longoria’s legs. Workman was ejected and tensions continued to rise.

Longoria went on MLB Network Radio’s Inside Pitch on Saturday morning to discuss the incident and says that he wishes that Workman HAD plunked him. With that, Longoria feels that the incidents would be over, sides would be even, and that the two teams could go back to just playing ball. As it stands, the Red Sox ended up walking-off on an RBI triple by A.J. Pierzynski in extra innings.

The Red Sox and Rays play two more games this weekend and several more throughout the season as the two are inter-division rivals. There’s no telling if the problems between the teams are over, but Longoria certainly is finished with the fighting.