Rays, Red Sox get testy in fight for first

Fighting for first-place in the AL East, the Tampa Bay Rays and Boston Red Sox have quickly developed a testy rivalry.

Josh Beckett and the David Ortiz-less Red Sox regained the top spot in the division Wednesday night with a 5-1 victory over Tampa Bay that featured a hard slide and an exchange of heated words.

Beckett (6-4) allowed one run in six innings and the Red Sox won their 12th straight home game.

Red Sox outfielder Coco Crisp was involved in a flareup in the eighth when he slid into second baseman Akinori Iwamura hard and late. Crisp was thrown out, but that was hardly the end of it. After Julio Lugo struck out, Rays manager Joe Maddon went …