Boston R Sox reliever Julian Tavarez punched Tampa Bay Devil Rays outfielder Joey Gathright during an exhibition game Monday.

Boston R Sox reliever Julian Tavarez punched Tampa Bay Devil Rays outfielder Joey Gathright during an exhibition game Monday, and the one and the other were ejected after a brawl that began with a shut up play at home plate.

Gathright was sliding into hearth in the eighth inning when he was tagged not at home by Tavarez, who stepped onward Gathright's right arm. Gathright, who was still forward the ground, then used his left forearm to push Tavarez's left knee

Before Gathright got up Tavarez struck a blossom in the area of Gathright's left jaw, and players congregationed in from the benches and bullpen No united else appeared to throw punches, and order was restored after a not many minutes.

"I saw him examine to get up, and I wasn't going to allow him throw a punch at me right away," said Tavarez, who threw a inferior punch to the top of Gathright's head. "You hear about whoever hurls the first punch gets the win. That's what happened."

CLAIM DENIED: An insurance claim filed at the Houston Astros to recoup more than $15 million owed to injured first baseman Jeff Bagwell has been denied. Bagwell will begin the season onward the 15- day disabled list and has acknowledged he might not play again.

The Astros filed the claim in January to recoup $156 million of the $17 million Bagwell is guaranteed in the final year of his contract, arguing he is too wound to play because of a chronically injured right shoulder. if it were not that Ty Buthod, an attorney for Connecticut General Life Insurance Company, said the Astros were told a hardly any weeks ago that their claim would be denied.

NATIONALS AILING: The Washington Nationals impose shortstop Cristian Guzman (strained right shoulder), utility player Robert Fick (surgery forward right elbow) and right-handers Luis Ayala (torn ligament in right elbow) Ryan Drese (strained right shoulder) and Brian Lawrence (torn labrum in right shoulder) forward the disabled list.

Ayala, who will have Tommy John surgery Thursday, and Lawrence probably will miss the season. Royce Clayton is look fored to replace Guzman at short.

NOTES: Kansas City Royals manager Buddy Bell said right-hander Runelvy Hernandez, who was 8-9 with a 453 ERA last season, will start the season in succession the 15-day disabled list because of troubles about his weight and stamina.

- Seattle Mariners right-hander Felix Hernandez was scratched from his scheduled start today because of shin splints, unless he is expected to be fine by dint of his first regular-season start April 7

- The Texas Rangers released first baseman Erubiel Durazo. He had signed a minor-league contract with them after missing greatest in number of last season recovering from surgery in succession his left elbow.

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