BOSTON — The Boston Red Sox, who left Florida last Sunday mired in a 10-game losing streak, won their fifth straight on Friday night, edging the Tampa Bay Rays 3-2 in 10 innings in a wild game that featured two bench-clearing incidents.
Because of ejections, the Red Sox needed four managers for their fifth win in as many days — and A.J. Pierzynski’s long triple that fell in when two Tampa Bay outfielders collided in right center.
With one out in the 10th, loser Juan Carlos Oviedo (1-2 with walk-off losses the last two games) hit left fielder Jonny Gomes with a pitch. Pierzynski, who has been hot, hit the long fly and center fielder Desmond Jennings and right fielder Wil Myers ran together trying to catch the ball. With Jennings on the ground, Myers chased the ball, but the game was clearly over and the Red Sox had their second walk-off win in as many nights.
The win also ended a five-game series losing streak for the Red Sox against the Rays.
Tampa Bay has lost four straight, won four straight and lost four straight in the last 12 games.
Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia left the game after grounding out with the winning run on third in the ninth inning with an apparent injury. Then, in the 10th, Tampa shortstop Yunel Escobar left with an apparent leg injury after beating out a double play relay.
Left-hander Andrew Miller (2-4) got the final out of the top of the 10th for the win.
The benches emptied twice, both times when Tampa Bay starter David Price hit batters.
Before the sixth inning was over, with rain falling, the Red Sox were on their fourth manager — batting coach Greg Colbrunn taking over after third base coach and Orono native Brian Butterfield was automatically tossed when starter Brandon Workman threw behind Tampa third baseman Evan Longoria. Workman, too, was tossed, joining manager John Farrell and bench coach Torey Lovullo.
No Rays were thrown out — and Price failed to hold a 2-0 lead and left a tie game after seven innings.
Designated hitter David DeJesus doubled and scored in the first and singled home a run in the fifth, and Boston DH David Ortiz, hit by Price in the first inning, drilled an RBI single in the fifth and rookie Xander Bogearts (third straight three-hit game) had an RBI double in the seventh.
Workman allowed two runs and four hits in 5 1/3 innings.
Before the game, Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon called last Sunday’s tussle “a totally dead issue.” But Price throwing at Ortiz could go back to when the slugger admired a shot he hit down the line for a home run in last year’s ALDS.
There was no reason for Ortiz to run on that one because the ball was either a homer or a foul ball. It is possible that Price was waiting to throw at Ortiz, who sat out the game against him last weekend in Florida.
The fun started after the Rays had taken a 1-0 lead in the first inning. DeJesus opened with a double and rode to third on right fielder Grady Sizemore’s error. He scored on a groundout by second baseman Ben Zobrist.
Price struck out the first two batters in the bottom of the inning and then walked second baseman Dustin Pedroia. He then drilled Ortiz, and the warnings were issued — warnings always penalizing the team that got thrown at in the first place, because of the free shot already taken.
Out came Farrell, who was quickly tossed.
Pierzynski got his team’s first hit, a double, and Price then hit first baseman Mike Carp, emptying the benches again. Ortiz clearly wanted a piece of Price. Lovullo was ejected, but Price was not.
Ortiz got some revenge when he stroked the Red Sox’s third straight single to deliver a run in the fifth.
NOTES: Red Sox C-1B Ryan Lavarnway was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a left hamate (wrist) fracture that will require surgery. OF-1B Alex Hassan was recalled to replace him. … The Rays activated 2B-OF Ben Zobrist from the DL and optioned INF Cole Figueroa to Triple-A. … Boston RHP Rubby De La Rosa, part of the 2012 mega-deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers, was at Fenway Park on Friday but won’t officially be recalled until Saturday, when he starts against Tampa RHP Jake Odorizzi on Saturday night. Odorizzi has a 1.66 ERA in his last four starts and pitched well against Boston last weekend. … The Elias Sports Bureau said the three hits by both SS Xander Bogaerts and 3B Brock Holt on Thursday marked the first time Boston had two rookies with three hits in a game since Trot Nixon and Brian Daubach did it in 1999. … LHP Erik Bedard will start for the Rays on Sunday, with RHP Alex Cobb pushed back to Monday for extra rest.