ST. PETERSBURG, Florida — The Boston Red Sox pulled out a 5-3 win over the Tampa Bay Rays on Sunday without one of their key bats, as first baseman Mike Napoli was ejected in the second inning after arguing a called third strike with home plate umpire Tripp Gibson III.
“He told me I forgot my bat,” Napoli said after the game. “I stopped for a little bit and he said ‘I told you to pick up your bat.’ I pointed at the bat boy, who picks up our bats, and he tossed me. … It’s kind of embarrassing. I don’t know how you can throw someone out for that.”
Red Sox manager John Farrell said Napoli disputed the call but did not understand the explanation of ejecting him for not picking up his bat.
“To me, I think we all have an issue with that. That’s why we have bat boys,” Farrell said.
Napoli has been outspoken in criticizing the strike zone he’s played with as a hitter, and he said disputing calls he believes to be questionable is something he must do, even if there are sometimes consequences.
“I’m not trying to get thrown out in the second inning. We have a short bench,” he said. “Enough’s enough. I’ve been getting pitches called off the plate. It’s frustrating. … I’m not going to sit there and keep taking it. I’m going to let him know how I feel, but I don’t do it in a way I’m going to get tossed. I didn’t do anything wrong to get tossed there. I don’t know. Maybe it’s a rookie mistake, young-guy mistake.”
Sizemore provides spark
In adding veteran Grady Sizemore to their roster on Sunday, the Tampa Bay Rays had hoped to get a spark for an injury-depleted lineup.
Sizemore, who played 52 games with the Red Sox last season, did that and then some, matching a team record with three hits in his Rays debut, going 3-for-5 with an RBI in a 5-3 loss to the Boston Red Sox.
“I’m just happy to be back on a big-league team and in uniform,” said Sizemore, signed by the Rays after he was cut by the Phillies. “It’s one of those days where you just feel good at the plate and you have good timing. … Just try to come in here and put good at-bats together and do what I can.”
Rays manager Kevin Cash, who batted Sizemore second in the lineup as the team’s designated hitter, was pleased by how well he played in his first game.
“We probably anticipated he was going to have some really good at-bats, but to come in and get three hits, it was nice,” Cash said. “A nice boost for us. … It was good to see but it just wasn’t quite enough today.”
The Rays moved outfielder Desmond Jennings to the 60-day disabled list as he recovers from knee surgery. For a team that’s struggled to hit consistently, Sizemore’s addition could help the Rays as they try to stay in first place in the American League East.
NOTEBOOK: Red Sox infielder Deven Marrero made his major league debut as a defensive replacement at second base in the second inning Sunday. He went 0-for-3 but made a gem of a play fielding a ground ball well out of most ranges, impressing his teammates. … Infielder Travis Shaw was optioned to Boston’s Triple-A Pawtucket on Saturday. He has appeared in six games with the Red Sox this season, going 0-for-9 with one walk, one strikeout and one run scored. … RHP Matt Barnes was recalled from Triple-A Pawtucket before Saturday’s game and gave up two runs in 1 2/3 innings on solo home runs by Rays catch Rene Rivera and third baseman Evan Longoria. Barnes arrived at the ballpark in the early afternoon. “It’s been a long day,” Barnes said. “But that’s part of the profession. You’ve still got to go out there and put up zeroes.