Red Sox drop Twins 3-1, young umpire ejects 4

[May 29, 2009]  MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Jason Varitek hit two home runs, then was one of four people ejected by young umpire Todd Tichenor during separate arguments in the seventh inning of Boston's 3-1 victory over the Minnesota Twins on Thursday.

The 32-year-old Tichenor, up from the Triple-A Pacific Coast League, gave the boot to both catchers and both managers during a wild seventh inning that ended with Red Sox starter Josh Beckett giving a dismissive wave toward home plate in disgust.

Joe Crede hit a home run in his return from a three-game absence because of a bruised hand, but Beckett (5-2) was too much for the Twins. He allowed one run on three hits with four walks and eight strikeouts in seven innings.

Varitek hit solo homers off Anthony Swarzak (1-1) to lead off the fifth and seventh innings, the first first time the switch-hitter has hit two home runs in a game off right-handed pitchers since 2004, according to baseballreference.com.

The razzing really started after his second homer.

Dustin Pedroia lifted a sacrifice fly to right field and Jason Kubel fired a perfect strike to Mike Redmond at home plate as Jeff Bailey came barreling home. Redmond applied a sweep tag and replays showed that he appeared to hit Bailey on the arm just before Bailey's hand touched the plate.

But Tichenor called Bailey safe, prompting an animated protest from Redmond. Tichenor tossed Redmond almost immediately after the catcher approached him, and it was not clear on the replays if Redmond's shin guard touched Tichenor as he closed in.

Twins manager Ron Gardenhire jumped out of the dugout to defend Redmond and was ejected himself.

With Joe Mauer as the designated hitter, Redmond's ejection forced the Twins to give up their DH for the rest of the game.

Things escalated in the bottom of the inning when Beckett threw a pitch that Varitek tried to frame for strike three on Brendan Harris. When he didn't get the call -- replays showed that it appeared to be outside -- Beckett seethed. Varitek stood up to intervene, turned around and got in Tichenor's face.

Ejection No. 3.

Then it was Red Sox manager Terry Francona's turn to defend his player, and it was only a matter of seconds before Tichenor gave Francona the boot as well.

Swarzak gave up three runs on five hits with four walks and three strikeouts in six innings of his second big league start. After pitching seven scoreless in a win over Milwaukee in his debut last week, Swarzak's scoreless innings streak reached 11 before Varitek got to him in the fifth inning on Thursday.

Varitek entered the game hitting .222 with three homers from the left side of the plate this season.

Jonathan Papelbon pitched the ninth for his 13th save.

Notes: Red Sox OF Jason Bay was given his first day off of the season. ... Gardenhire gave SS Nick Punto the day off to rest a sore groin that has been nagging him for the last week. ... Red Sox OF Mark Kotsay will continue his rehab from back surgery by playing three of four games for Triple-A Pawtucket starting on Friday. ... Michael Cuddyer hit for the pitcher's spot in the seventh and Brian Buscher was the pinch-hitter in the ninth.

[Associated Press; By JON KRAWCZYNSKI]

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