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RED SOX 7, INDIANS 1: Clubhouse reaction »
October 19, 2007
BY SEAN McADAM
Journal Sports Writer
CLEVELAND -- The dust-up between Kenny Lofton and Josh Beckett wasn't their first confrontation.
In the fifth inning Thursday night, with the count 3-and-0, Beckett threw a strike that Lofton thought was a ball. The veteran outfielder laid the bat down and started for first base before returning after the strike call by home-plate umpire Gary Cederstrom.
Beckett took exception to Lofton showing him up and when Lofton hit a routine opposite-field flyout to left on the next pitch, Lofton was barely through with his swing before Beckett was barking at him.
As Lofton trotted to first, Lofton shouted something back and as he crossed the infield to return to the Cleveland dugout, they exchanged more words.
Before long, teammates were interceding near the mound and the dugouts and bullpens emptied.
Mike Lowell was one of the first to arrive and act as peacemaker.
''I just wanted to get in between them,'' said Lowell. ''They're both intense and emotional and I didn't want anything more to come of that.''
''It was a lot of stuff,'' said Beckett afterward. ''It kind of goes back before today.''
Indeed, the two squared off on May 24, 2005 when Becektt was with the Marlins and Lofton with the Philadelphia Phillies. The circumstances were similar, with Lofton taking a walk -- that time, the pitch actually was a ball; Beckett took exception to Lofton laying down the bat and going to first -- and Beckett voicing his displeasure. Just like Thursday night, words, but no punches, were exhcanged.
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