The potential last straw in the Rex Sox-Orioles revenge game might have been an accident, just like the way it started.
Orioles starter Kevin Gausman was ejected immediately after hitting Red Sox shortstop Xander Bogaerts with a pitch in the second inning of Wednesday night’s game at Fenway Park.
The umpire’s rapid reaction likely stemmed from the harsh warning MLB commissioner Rob Manfred issued the two sides earlier Wednesday, telling them “enough is enough” after weeks’ worth of retaliatory behavior, Red Sox manager John Farrell relayed to ESPN.
“Given the situation and the tension between the two clubs and all the stuff that’s gone over the past few weeks, we’re all on high alert with anything,” crew chief Sam Holbrook said in a statement to a pool reporter after Boston’s 4-2 win. “There needs to be an end to this stuff, and I felt like an ejection was the right thing to do at that time.”
If this weren’t enough for one game, Orioles center field Adam Jones, who said he heard racist taunts by Red Sox fans on Monday, also was ejected for arguing with the umpire after a questionable strike 2 call in the fifth inning.
As for Manfred’s ultimatum, it meant pitchers such as Gausman didn’t have much leeway, meaning any erratic pitch — like the 76.6 mph curveball that struck Bogaerts in the back — probably warranted punishment. The way Gausman and catcher Caleb Joseph reacted to the umpire’s call, jumping up and screaming in disbelief as Bogaerts tossed his bat and jogged to first, didn’t make the pitch seem any more intentional.
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No matter the motive, MLB made it clear it was committed to curbing the bad blood between the divisional rivals.
“One issue is the fact they’ve played each other so often,” chief baseball officer Joe Torre said in a conference call Wednesday. “Once something happens, then it just seems to grow and fester and all that. Basically, in trying to keep score on who owes who what, we figured there was enough going on with both sides that we basically just had a phone call today to let them know we want to play baseball. We don’t want to get anybody hurt.
“Players deserve to be on the field. We appreciate your passion but we certainly need to have the focus on playing games instead of trying to get even, if somebody thinks they need to get even. … If this stuff continues, there will be some discipline.”