Red Sox Lose Temper Win Series
By Kris Dunn on June 29, 2015The Boston Red Sox entered the weekend series against the Tampa Bay Rays in a very desperate position. Sitting nine games behind the first place Rays, Boston needed something to go their way. A sweep, or even two losses at the hands of the Rays could have crippled Red Sox nation.
Extra innings, ejections, and surprise pitching performances were on display at Tropicana Field.
It is still uncertain whether the Sox will be buyers or sellers at the trade deadline, however, fans will tell you it’s time to sell. This season has been unfortunate for a team that many thought would contend for a championship.
Instead, it’s the Rays who find themselves in first place. With the third lowest payroll in baseball ($75,794,234).
Injuries, demotions, and external chatter have certainly plagued the Red Sox all season. For Mike Napoli, the boiling point might have been this weekend.
On Friday night, Napoli struck out looking in the top of the 10th inning. Napoli did not agree with the call and he made sure that home-plate umpire Brian Gorman knew it. The altercation was one in which you would have expected Napoli to be ejected. Especially with the short fuse we have seen from umpires this year. It’s unclear what was said but the Red Sox first baseman was in Gorman’s face for a while.
Second base umpire Tripp Gibson had a great view of the altercation. On Sunday, we saw him come to the defense of his colleague, Gorman.
In the second inning of Sunday afternoons game, Napoli was called out on strikes again. This time he was a bit more level headed, although he did argue with Gibson for a second. Napoli turned away and started walking to the dugout. That appeared to be the end of it. However, apparently Gibson had something to say and when Napoli turned around with a response, he was tossed from the game. You be the judge, was this ejection-worthy?
After the game Mike Napoli had this to say…
“He told me I forgot my bat, I stopped a little bit and [then] he told me to come back and pick up the bat. I pointed at the bat boy, who picks up our bats, and he tossed me.”
The Red Sox were able to take two of the three games against Tampa Bay, however, still sit eight games behind the Rays and Orioles.
The Rays look to regain sole possession of first place as they host Cleveland for a four game set beginning on Monday night. The Red Sox are in Toronto to face the Blue Jays four times.
Story by Kris Dunn. Follow him on Twitter
Tags: al east, boston red sox, brian gorman, Dugout View, kris dunn, kris dunn dugout view, mike napoli, Tampa Bay Rays, tripp gibson
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