Manny's 5 RBI's, homer lead Sox over DEVIL Rays

Manny Ramirez led the way, hitting a first-inning 3 run homer and then adding a bases-loaded single to drive in two more as the Red Sox won their 13th straight home game, 7-1. This was one of the more eventful games this season; a benches-clearing brawl in the second inning when Shields hit Coco on his lower leg. Coco pretended to be heading to first base and then charged the mound where the two of them exchanghed punches. Shields missed on an attempted haymaker as Coco dodged out of the way. The slugged it out and the two of them were taken to the ground where players piled on. Crawford hopped on top and punched Crisp several times while he layed defenseless on the ground. Best fight I've seen in years. Crisp, Shields and Gomes were ejected. The win enabled the Red Sox to move 2 1/2 games ahead of the DEVIL Rays, who are about to descent in the standings as they hit the road for Texas and then Anaheim.

Jon Lester (4-3), making his first Fenway start since his no-hitter against Kansas City on May 19, gave up one run and eight hits, struck out five, hit two batters and didn't walk anyone in 6 1/3 innings. Timlin worked 1 2/3 hitless innings and Aardsma got the final three outs. Ramirez's three-run homer -- the 503rd home run of his career -- gave Boston a 3-0 lead in the first. Pedroia was hit on the left elbow by Shields (4-4) and Drew led before Ramirez's drive cleared the seats above the Green Monster. Ramirez's right knee appeared to buckle when he took a pitch from Dan Wheeler in the seventh. Ramirez continued to flex his leg after drawing a walk before leaving for pinch-runner Kevin Cash one batter later. Gomes' RBI single made it 3-1 in the second, but Pedroia had a sacrifice fly in the bottom half. Drew's bases-loaded walk and Ramirez's two-run single through the shortstop hole made it 7-1 in the fourth.

Red Sox center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury left the game with a strained right wrist after making a sensational diving catch of Evan Longoria's sinking fourth-inning liner. X-rays proved to be negative and Ellsbury is listed day-to-day.