Tempers flare as Cleveland Indians lose to Boston, 3-1

Jensen Lewis, third base coach Steve Smith and Boston's Josh Beckett were ejected after an eighth-inning shoving match.

Elise Amendola / Associated PressBoston pitching coach John Farrell, right, holds back Adrian Beltre after Beltre had a pitch from Indians reliever Jensen Lewis go behind him in the eighth inning of Tuesday's game at Fenway Park. Both benches cleared with some pushing and shoving, with Lewis and Indians coach Steve Smith along with Red Sox starter Josh Beckett ejected.

BOSTON, Mass. -- The only noise the Indians made Tuesday night at Fenway Park came in the eighth inning when Jensen Lewis threw at Boston third baseman Adrian Beltre to start a bench-clearing shoving match near the mound.

Lewis, Indians third base coach Steve Smith and Boston starter Josh Beckett were ejected by play umpire Tim Welke in Boston's 3-1 victory.

Beckett (3-1) allowed one run on three hits in eight innings. He struck out eight and didn't walk a batter.

David Huff, just back from Class AAA Columbus, took the loss. Huff (2-10) allowed three runs in 5 1/3 innings.

The Indians' only run came on Lou Marson's leadoff homer in the third. After that, Beckett held them to one hit. Jonathan Papelbon pitched the ninth for his 25th save.

The trouble started when Beckett hit Shin-Soo Choo in the right knee in the third. Choo stole second on Beckett's first pitch to Shelley Duncan. Beckett threw over Duncan's head on the pitch. Beckett also hit Duncan in the first inning.

In the seventh, Justin Germano threw behind David Ortiz's legs with two out.

Lewis started the eighth and threw at Beltre. He missed him, but both teams rushed the field.  Duncan and Beckett were screaming at each other in the middle of the scrum.

At the end of the confrontation, Smith and Boston pitching coach John Farrell were yelling at each other. Then Boston manager Terry Francona had to be restrained from going after Smith.

First base coach Sandy Alomar Jr. replaced Smith at third. Hitting coach Jon Nunnally took over at first. Joe Smith replaced Lewis on the mound.

Huff had trouble keeping Boston within the playing dimensions of Fenway Park. Mike Lowell, just off the disabled list, hit a two-run homer over The Green Monster in the second inning for a 2-0 lead.

In the fourth, Bill Hall lifted a homer over The Monster to make it 3-1.

The loss ended the Indians' three-game winning streak.