SI.COM:

Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon wasn’t hiding his feelings about what happened in the ninth inning. In his eyes, it was as clear as the Rays’ power display against Boston starter Jon Lester

The Rays pounding of Lester was only the subplot to a feisty ninth.

Boston reliever Franklin Morales threw behind DH Luke Scott with the first pitch of an at-bat and hit him in the hip area on a 3-1 count. Scott was restrained by catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia and the benches and bullpens emptied. There was a lot of pushing and shoving along the first-base line that carried over behind home plate before order was restored..

A few fans and Rays players were yelling at each other near Tampa Bay’s dugout when the players left the field after the incident. B.J. Upton seemed to be the one most involved with the fans near the end of the Rays’ dugout.

“It crossed the line,” he said of a comment, saying he was unsure if it was racial. “I felt like it did. It takes a lot for me.”


Some things never change.