01:00 AM EST on Tuesday, March 28, 2006

BY SEAN McADAM
Journal Sports Writer

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- For the second time in as many days, the Red Sox found themselves in a bench-clearing incident yesterday. Unlike Sunday, however, when only angry words were exchanged, this time punches were thrown.

In the top of the eighth inning, Red Sox reliever Julian Tavarez delivered a couple of roundhouse rights to Tampa Bay Devil Rays outfielder Joey Gathright after the two were involved in a collision at the plate.

Both benches and bullpens emptied, with players arriving at home plate with far more readiness than on Sunday when heated words between Josh Beckett and Philadelphia first baseman Ryan Howard led to flared tempers, but little more.

Tavarez had raced to cover home plate after a single by Julio Lugo resulted in two Tampa baserunners -- Gathright and Julio Lugo -- rounding bases too far. After catcher Ken Huckaby took the outfield throw from Willie Mota, he fired to second baseman Zack Borowiak.

When Gathright broke for home, Borowiak threw to Tavarez, who successfully applied the tag as Gathright slid into his left leg. Tavarez appeared to step on Gathright's arm, and as the Tampa outfielder struggled to get free, pushed Tavarez's leg.

Believing that Gathright was intent on getting up to confront him, Tavarez threw a preemptive right that glanced Gathright's chin. A second swipe knocked Gathright's helmet off, by which time the two were surrounded by players from both teams.

Both Tavarez and Gathright were ejected

by the umpires.

"I wasn't angry," insisted Tavarez. "It was just a reaction. I thought he was going to hit me."

"He hits like a woman," charged Gathright. "I was shocked. I guess he was upset. Still, there's no call for that.I slid in and he was standing on my arm. I was trying to get up, but I couldn't because he was putting more pressure on it. I was like, 'Get off me, man,' but he wouldn't move. So I tried to get up and pushed his knee back. I was getting up and he swung at me and that's when it all started."

Later, Tavarez sounded more contrite, adding: "I wish that didn't happen. You don't look for that to happen. You've got to play the game the right way."

Tavarez has been at the center of controversy several times in his career. He once broke his hand after punching a dugout phone in frustration. He also was forced to apologize after making derogatory remarks toward gay fans while pitching for the San Francisco Giants.

"I think (yesterday's action) may require a suspension (for Tavarez), absolutely," said Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon. "That kind of action cannot be tolerated, and I don't want any of our guys ever doing anything like that."

"I'm a very calm person," insisted Tavarez. "I'm not a fighting guy. But when you're on the field, things happen."

After the two sides had returned to their respective dugouts, Tampa outfielder Carl Crawford, who was on deck when the incident took place, walked toward the dugout and, according to Tavarez, challenged him to continue things outside.

"It was a sucker punch," said Crawford. "Joey couldn't defend himself on his back."

"He said, 'Let's go one-on-one in the parking lot,' " said Tavarez. "What's happened has happened. It's over and I'm not going to fight nobody."

The Red Sox and Devil Rays, of course, are no strangers to brawls, having had numerous dustups dating back several years. In one incident in 2000, Gerald Williams charged the mound against Pedro Martinez. In another, in 2002, Trot Nixon appeared to have intentionally let a bat slip from his hands toward pitcher Ryan Rupe, who, an inning earlier, had hit two Red Sox hitters. As recently as last April, six members of the two teams were ejected when beanballs were exchanged.

"This had nothing to do with history," said Maddon, in his first year with Tampa. "That was just present time right there."

"It's different for spring training," said Boston outfielder Adam Stern "You don't expect that kind of stuff."

"You don't expect that," Huckaby said, "but it just shows you we're not out there going through the motions."

smcadam@projo.com / (401) 277-7340