Players, coaches ejected in bench clearer
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) - March 12, 2008 The teams, meeting four days after Yankees manager Joe Girardi
complained about Tampa Bay's aggressive play after a home-plate
collision that injured catcher Francisco Cervellio, had been warned
before the game that the umpires would have little tolerance for
any further problems.
The benches cleared after New York's Shelley Duncan slid into
Rays second baseman Akinori Iwamura with the spikes raised after
singling off third baseman Evan Longoria's glove and trying to
stretch the hit into a double.
Duncan was immediately tossed. Tampa Bay's Jonny Gomes was
ejected, too, after racing in from right field and barreling into
Duncan as other players poured onto the field. No punches appeared
to have been thrown as order was restored.
Yankee third base coach Bobby Meacham and hitting coach Kevin
Long also were ejected by the umpiring crew, which met with Girardi
and Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon before the game.
New York left-hander Heath Phillips was ejected during the first
inning after one of his pitches appeared to graze Longoria's shirt.
The Rays had already scored two runs and three hits in the inning.
Girardi protested Phillips' ejection and both benches were
warned.
