Sox/Devil Rays on 7/18

[LDUB]

Here is what happned:

Julio Lugo hit a grounder to first and Schilling went to cover the bag. First base umpire Dana DeMuth ruled that Schilling beat the runner, but he thought the pitcher missed the bag and called Lugo safe, allowing a run to score.

``I assumed the whole foot missed the bag, so I banged him safe,'' DeMuth said. ``I wanted to make the right call.''

Schilling argued, prompting DeMuth to summon home plate umpire Laz Diaz. Diaz said he saw Schilling touch the base and the call was overturned, ending the inning and taking the run off the board.

The Red Sox left the field quickly, but Devil Rays manager Lou Piniella was enraged and stormed out of the dugout.

``Dana DeMuth, he's 6 feet away from the bag. And then you've got a home plate umpire who's 90 feet away and sees it better than the guy at first base. It's hard for me to believe,'' Piniella said. ``You've got one base to call. Make the call and stand by it.''

Piniella was quickly ejected in the ensuing argument and had to be held back by first base coach Billy Hatcher.

``Whoooo!'' Hatcher said. ``I've got to get back in the weight room. That's a strong man.''