01:00 AM EDT on Tuesday, September 28, 2004

BY SEAN McADAM
Journal Sports Writer

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Another day, another bench-clearing incident with the Red Sox.

A day after hostilities again arose with the Yankees, the Sox and Devil Rays got into it last night. Bronson Arroyo, who came into last night with 18 hit batsman, hit two Rays in the third inning -- Aubrey Huff and Tino Martinez.

In apparent retribution, Tampa Bay starter Scott Kazmir hit Manny Ramirez -- the second Boston batter in the top of the fourth. Both benches were warned by home plate umpire Bruce Dreckman.

But that didn't stop Kazmir, who then hit Kevin Millar in the back. Millar took a step or two toward the mound before being intercepted by catcher Toby Hall, and the benches and bullpens emptied, with lots of milling around and a little shoving.

When the field cleared, Kazmir and manager Lou Piniella had earned ejections, much to their displeasure.

"I thought it was poor judgment," Piniella said. Kazmir "had a no-hitter going. He wasn't trying to hit Millar. As it was, their pitcher stayed in the game. After Tino got hit, if they wanted to give a warning, that's when it should have been given. It was obvious that (Arroyo) was throwing at him.

"It was the opinion of the umpire that Kazmir hit Millar on purpose. He didn't -- I'm certain of that."

"I didn't see why I couldn't stay in the game," Kazmir said. "I was just doing what I had been doing all game -- throwing inside. A couple of pitches got away. It's frustrating -- all I was trying to do was to establish my fastball on the inside part of the plate.

"I told one of the umpires, 'Hey. I've got a no-hitter going. Why would I want to hit someone?" What can you do?"

Crew chief Gerry Davis said: "When Ramirez was hit, we felt there was intent. And we felt there was intent when Millar was hit. . . . The key is that we look for intent. One of the other factors that goes into our thinking is that it's our job to stop things from escalating."

Record-setting night

The focus was on clinching a spot in the postseason last night as the Red Sox kicked off their final road trip of the season, but along the way, some personal and team records fell.

Two homers in the fifth inning -- the first by Johnny Damon, the second by Ramirez -- gave the club 214 homers, second-most in franchise history. They later two more, giving them 216. Last year, the Red Sox established a club record with 238. Until last night, the 213 hit in 1977 was second-best.

For Damon, the homer was his 19th of the season, setting a career high. He had previously hit 18 while with Kansas City in 1998.

Ramirez' homer -- his 43rd -- helped set a club record for most homers by two Sox teammates. Combined with 40 from David Ortiz, the pair have hit 83, bettering the mark held by Ted Williams and Vern Stephens, who hit 82 in 1949.

The victory by Arroyo was his 10th this season, giving the Sox five starters with double figures in victories. The last time the Sox have five pitchers with 10 or more wins was in 1979 when Dennis Eckersley (17), Bob Stanley (16), Mike Torrez (16), Steve Renko (11) and Dick Drago (10) reached double figures.

Also, when Arroyo went over the 175-inning mark in the sixth inning, it gave the Sox five pitchers with 175 or more innings for just the ninth time in club history -- but first since 1929, 75 years ago.

The Sox had six extra-base hits last night, giving them 600 for the season. Only two other teams have reached that level -- last year's Red Sox (649) and the 1996 Seattle Mariners (607).

Williamson's hopes dim

Reliever Scott Williamson, who has pitched just once in the last 10 days, met with manager Terry Francona and pitching coach Dave Wallace before the game, and while the pitcher wouldn't reveal much about the specifics, it's known that the three tried to plot out the rest of the week in an effort to determine whether Williamson will be ready for the start of the post-season.

Williamson informed bullpen coach Euclides Rojas Sunday that he felt some soreness in the back of his right elbow and could use the day off.

"They know I'm not 100 percent -- they can tell by my velocity (88-91)," Williamson said. "But I'm competing at this level. It's their decision (whether to include him on the playoff roster). They're trying to win a World Series. In the playoffs, you have to be ready every day."

Ortiz, Mueller catch a break

A playoff spot all but assured yesterday afternoon, the Red Sox gave Ortiz the night off, with lefty Kazmir starting. Ortiz will likely start tonight and tomorrow night.

He has 88 extra-base hits this season and has a chance to set a club record for most in a single season. The current mark is 92, set by Jimmie Foxx in 1938.

Ortiz has already collected more than any lefty in franchise history. The previous high was 85, set by Williams in 1949.

Also getting a night off was third baseman Bill Mueller, who was hitting .338 over the previous 45 games.

Kevin Youkilis got the start at third base.

Finally, with Ramirez' hamstring tight, he was restricted to DH duties with Millar taking over in left and David McCarty was the choice at first. For McCarty, it was just his second start this month since coming off the disabled list.

Runs aplenty

The Sox have now scored 911 runs scored, highest total in either league.

It's highly unlikely they'll match last year's total of 961 -- they would need to average slightly more than eight runs per contest this week -- but it marks just the sixth time the Sox have scored 900 runs or more in a season.

Boston scored 902 in 1938, 907 in 1948, 1027 in 1950, 928 in 1996 and 961 last year.

They're on pace to reach 945, which would represent the third-highest total in club history.

Around the bases

Unable to fly Sunday night on their scheduled charter flight, the Sox departed Boston yesterday around 9:40 a.m. and arrived here shortly before 1 p.m., just six hours before the start of the game . . . Ellis Burks, who reported soreness in his surgically repaired left knee Sunday and couldn't get an at-bat in what was likely his last regular-season home game ever, wasn't available last night . . . In honor of Hispanic Heritage Night at Tropicana Field, the Devil Rays had former Sox great Luis Tiant throw out the first pitch . . . Mike Timlin, who pitched the eighth and allowed a solo homer to Midre Cummings, made his 73rd appearance, a career high.