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Red Sox top Rays in contentious contest

May 31, 2014 - 4:52 AM Boston, MA (SportsNetwork.com) - A.J. Pierzynski's triple with one away in the bottom of the 10th scored Jonny Gomes with the winning run as Boston topped Tampa Bay, 3-2, in Friday's opener of a three-game series from Fenway Park.

Juan Carlos Oviedo (1-2) plunked Gomes after retiring David Ortiz on a grounder to second. Pierzynski followed with a liner to right-center which dropped off the glove of Wil Myers and allowed Gomes to score easily.

Andrew Miller (2-4) threw one pitch and recorded the final out in the top of the 10th.

Ortiz and Xander Bogaerts each knocked in a run for the Red Sox, who emerged victorious despite seeing three members of their coaching staff and starter Brandon Workman ejected.

Workman allowed two runs on four hits with four strikeouts and three walks before exiting after 5 1/3 innings.

David DeJesus finished with two hits and an RBI for the Rays, while Ben Zobrist drove in the other run. David Price took a seat after seven full frames, yielding six hits and two runs while fanning six.

With the Astros' win over Baltimore, Tampa Bay fell one-half game back of Houston for the worst record in the American League at 23-32.

The Rays picked up a run in the first. DeJesus hit a leadoff double and went to third on Grady Sizemore's wild throw, then scored on a Zobrist grounder to second.

In the home half, Ortiz was hit on the hip and both benches were given immediate warnings. Boston manager John Farrell was the first to be ejected for lodging his complaints to home plate umpire Dan Bellino. Ortiz was particularly incensed at the continuation of bad feelings left over from last postseason, and let his feelings be known.

"I have no more respect for him. Last year we kick his ass in the playoffs, he went off, talking (bleep) about everybody, (television analyst) Tom Verducci and everybody, players," Ortiz said. "We kind of got to talk on the phone. We kind of straightened things out. He was kind of upset. As a veteran, I kind of let him know how things go in this game. Everything was cool. So first at-bat of the season against him he threw at me? I mean, it's a war. Next time he hits me he better bring the gloves."

Price didn't give up a hit until a two-out double in the fourth against Pierzynski, then Mike Carp was plunked on the wrist and both benches emptied while coming together near the mound.

"I've got to establish my fastball in," Price explained. "I've got six lefties in that lineup. It's my favorite side of the plate to go to. I've got to establish it in."

After the sides returned to their respective dugouts without anything more than minor pushing, Sox bench coach Torey Lovullo was kicked out for a spirited discussion regarding Price's remaining in the contest. Sizemore then grounded out to end the frame.

Yunel Escobar began the fifth with a double, was sacrificed to second and scored on a DeJesus single for a 2-0 Tampa edge. The Red Sox finally broke through in the home half, as Ortiz struck the last of three straight two-out hits to score Bogaerts.

Workman threw well behind Evan Longoria with one away in the sixth, and as a result, both he and acting manager Brian Butterfield got the heave. Longoria eventually walked but James Loney lined into an inning-ending double play to keep it 2-1.

Jackie Bradley Jr. singled to start the home seventh, and scored on Bogaerts' towering one-out double which bounced off the Green Monster. The hosts couldn't push across the winning run in the bottom of the ninth with two in scoring position when Dustin Pedroia grounded out.

Game Notes

Price entered play with a 6-1 record in Fenway ... Tampa Bay starters have gone 12 straight games without recording a victory ... Greg Colbrunn ended up as the BoSox manager for the remainder of the contest after Butterfield's dismissal ... Prior to the contest, the Sox placed utilityman Ryan Lavarnway on the 15-day disabled list and recalled utilityman Alex Hassan from Triple-A Pawtucket ... The Rays activated Zobrist from the 15-day DL after he missed two weeks with a dislocated thumb.