Boston, MA (Sports Network) - Manny Ramirez's home run and five runs batted in finished off Boston's three-game sweep of the Tampa Bay Rays, but those were not the only fireworks in Boston's 7-1 victory that cemented the reigning champions as the team to beat in the American League East.

Rays starter James Shields and Boston's Coco Crisp exchanged glancing blows in the bottom of the second inning after Crisp was hit by a Shields offering on the right thigh. Crisp, who was involved in a questionable take-out slide in Wednesday's contest that riled up both clubs, took exception to the blow and charged the mound while the benches and bullpens both emptied.

After several punches were thrown by members of both teams, Crisp, Shields and Rays' designated hitter Jonny Gomes, who threw several shots at Crisp on the ground, were all ejected by home plate umpire Jeff Kellogg following the melee.

"The scratches on my face were people trying to scratch like we're playing football or something, like little girls trying to scratch out my eyes," Crisp said. "Everybody tried to get their little blows in."

Several others players were plunked throughout the game, but tempers did not flare and Boston cruised to its 13th consecutive victory at Fenway Park.

Emotions also boiled over though in the Red Sox dugout at the end of the fourth inning between Ramirez and teammate Kevin Youkilis. Replays showed the two being separated after a heated verbal exchange.

Jon Lester (4-3) was efficient in earning his first win since tossing a no- hitter against Kansas City on May 19. The young lefty surrendered just one run on eight hits, while walking none and fanning five in his 6 1/3-inning start for Boston, which now owns a 1 1/2 game lead over the up-and-coming Rays in the AL East.

Chris Carter played in his first major league game and tallied two hits and two runs, while Sean Casey added two hits as well in the Red Sox's sixth win in seven games.

Shields (4-4) was saddled with the loss after allowing four runs in one-plus innings before the ejection. The Rays dropped their third straight game following a three-game winning streak, as Gomes recorded their lone RBI.

The Sox got started early by putting a pair of runners in scoring position for Ramirez in the first. In the designated hitter spot due to David Ortiz's wrist injury, Ramirez golfed Shields' 1-0 changeup out of the park in left for a 3-0 Boston lead.

Gomes' two-out RBI single in the second was offset by Dustin Pedroia's sacrifice fly in the home half that followed the bench-clearing fracas.

Boston tacked on a few more in the fourth frame as Rays reliever Grant Balfour was pulled after consecutive one-out singles. J.P. Howell was brought in and allowed back-to-back walks, the last of which to J.D. Drew bringing in a run.

Ramirez pushed Boston ahead, 7-1 with a two-run seeing-eye single on a payoff pitch to left, as Lester and the Boston bullpen took over from there.

Tampa threatened in the eighth, but reliever Mike Timlin fanned Justin Ruggiano on a nine-pitch at-bat with the bases loaded to end the rally.