The Red Sox and Rays have been involved in plenty of tense moments the past several seasons, as the two have battled for supremacy in the AL East.
These days, they’re battling for last place in the division—a surprising, mostly injury-fueled development—but the intensity hasn’t lessened one bit. On Friday night, Tampa Bay starter David Price hit Boston slugger David Ortiz in the first inning, then hit Mike Carp in the fourth. The second one cleared the benches, and though there was nothing more physical than a little pushing and gesturing, there was plenty of yelling.
Ortiz led that verbal barrage, and he continued to let his feelings be known after the game. This was the first time Price and Ortiz had faced each other since Ortiz hit a pair of homers of the Rays' ace in the playoffs last year.
.@davidortiz on @DAVIDprice14; “It’s a war. It’s on. Next time he hits me, he better bring the gloves. I have no respect for him no more."
— Pete Abraham (@PeteAbe) May 31, 2014 Full @davidortiz transcript as he went the full Michael Corleone on @DAVIDprice14: http://t.co/RYceCB8LWx
— Pete Abraham (@PeteAbe) May 31, 2014Price responded before the teams played again Saturday.
#Rays' Price: "For as many people as I quote-unquote lost respect from, I gained respect from a lot more. I know that's a fact."
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) May 31, 2014 More from Price: "Nobody's bigger than the game of baseball. You ask pitchers from 10-15-20 years ago. That's normal. Part of the game."
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) May 31, 2014 More Price: "He was mad. I get it. You say stupid stuff when you're mad. I'm sure he probably wishes he didn't say some of things he said...
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) May 31, 2014 "You can't equate the game we play to a war. Kellen Winslow said he's a soldier. No, he's not. This is not a war...not a good comparison."
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) May 31, 2014Considering the teams play again Saturday and Sunday, and then 11 times after the All-Star break, you can bet we're not done hearing about this latest chapter in the Rays-Red Sox series.
