The rivalry has been officially renewed, as the Boston Red Sox and Tampa Bay Rays saw both benches and bullpens clear at Fenway Park on Friday night after Rays pitcher David Price plunked two batters during the course of the game.
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The Boston Herald is reporting that in the first inning, Price drilled the Red Sox DH David Ortiz, and received a warning, followed by his nailing of Mike Carp three innings later.
Then, as you’ll see in the video from MLB.com, it was on.
All of this can be traced back to the 2013 Division Series between the two teams, when David Ortiz stood and admired a home run that he walloped off of a Price pitch. At that point, the two discussed the incident and declared “it’s over”.
And then Senator John Blutarsky declared “Nothing is over until we decide it is!”
Fast forward to a few days ago, when there was a little mini-skirmish resulting from Yunel Escobar stealing third base in the seventh inning of a five-run game. After which, Rays manager Joe Maddon said that all had been forgotten.
Or had it.
After tonight’s two incidents it would appear that nothing is over or forgotten.
As a result of the two plunkings, both Red Sox manager and third base coach – John Farrell and Torey Lovullo — were ejected. Yes, you read that correctly. The Red Sox managers were ejected for the Rays pitcher hitting two batters.
Isn’t life grand?