ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Boston and Tampa Bay have had a brief benches-clearing scrum in the sixth inning after the Rays’ Matt Joyce was hit by a pitch from Red Sox starter John Lackey.
Lackey hit Joyce in the center of the back with two outs and Boston leading 6-4 Monday night. Joyce took several steps toward the mound and shouted at Lackey. Red Sox catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia got in between the two and restrained Joyce.
Both dugouts and bullpens emptied and Lackey could be seen saying that he didn’t mean to hit the Rays’ leadoff hitter.
There was some pushing and shoving near the first base line but the umpires chose not to eject any players.
