Three players ejected after Rays-Red Sox brawl

Yunel Escobar and Sean Rodriguez of the Tampa Bay Rays and Boston Red Sox left fielder Jonny Gomes were ejected Sunday after both benches and bullpens emptied and a scuffle took place on the field involving most of the players in St. Petersburg, Fla.

The incident took place after Escobar advanced to third base on the pitch following his two-run double that gave the Rays an 8-3 lead in the seventh inning.

After he was awarded the base on defensive indifference, Escobar began pointing and shouting toward the Boston dugout.

Both teams came onto the field and order was restored a few minutes later.

Gomes had tied the score earlier in the inning with a two-run home pinch-hit home run for the Red Sox, who suffered their 10th consecutive loss with the 8-5 defeat Sunday.

Rodriguez’s three-run, pinch-hit homer had regained the lead for the Rays before Escobar’s double.

Etc.

The Boston Red Sox put first baseman Mike Napoli on the 15-day disabled list because of a sprained finger and recalled right-hander Brandon Workman from triple-A Pawtucket (R.I.).

Napoli has been playing despite an injured fourth finger on his left hand, along with nagging hamstring and calf issues. He also missed games Wednesday and Thursday because of flu symptoms.

New York Yankees right-hander Michael Pineda is scheduled to pitch two innings in an extended spring-training game on Tuesday, increasing the possibility he could start a rehabilitation assignment soon.

Pineda, who was put on the 15-day DL on May 6 becaue of a shoulder muscle injury, threw 28 pitches of live batting practice on Saturday at the Yankees’ facility in Tampa, Fla. If Tuesday’s outing goes well, Pineda could begin a rehab stint in the minors or pitch in another extended spring game.