Red Sox's Crisp suspended seven games; seven others penalized

-In August 2006, eight suspensions were handed out after Texas and the Angels tangled. Managers Buck Showalter and Mike Scioscia, five players and a coach were penalized.

-In May 2000, 19 members of the Dodgers -- 17 players and two coaches -- were suspended after they climbed into the stands at Wrigley Field after a fan allegedly stole catcher Chad Kreuter's hat.

-In April 2000, 13 players were suspended after Detroit and the Chicago White Sox got into a pair of bench-clearing brawls. In addition, managers Jerry Manuel and Phil Garner and a coach were penalized.

With first place in the AL East on the line, tempers started to flare again between the Rays and Red Sox on Wednesday night after Crisp made a hard slide into Iwamura.

Then on Thursday night, Crisp was hit in the right hip by Shields in the second inning. Crisp rushed the mound, ducked a wild right by Shields and mayhem ensued.

"I don't regret anything," Shields said.

Gomes charged from the dugout, throwing punches at Crisp.

"My suspension, five games, I guess is deserved," Gomes said. "You leave the dugout and try to inflict punishment by punching someone, you're going to get fined."

Gomes served a one-game suspension this year for running in from right field to tackle the Yankees' Shelley Duncan during a brawl in spring training.

"It's definitely not the way I want to leave my mark as a player. It's my second offense. I'm sure that had something to do with it," Gomes said.

Crisp, left with a scratch on his forehead and right cheek, said Crawford tried to pull his hair during the pileup. After the game, Crawford didn't deny he might've done it. Crisp, Shields and Gomes were ejected.

"More of our guys participated. Or our guys got caught on tape," Crawford said.

Said Jackson: "It's nothing to be proud of. It's not some big accomplishment."

"The only way to explain it is instincts and reaction," he said. "It wasn't as if I was out there doing something dirty."

Often eliminated early, Tampa Bay is fighting with Boston and New York this year -- on and off the field.

"With the Red Sox it was more caused by dirty play during the game. With the Yankees, I don't know," Crawford said.