BOSTON -- In the second inning, Boston Red Sox starter Ryan Dempster drilled New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez with 3-0, 92 mph fastball. In the sixth, Rodriguez drilled Dempster for a long solo homer that sparked the Yankees' comeback victory.

"It was the ultimate payback," Rodriguez said after the team's 9-6 win.

Alex Rodriguez turns his back as a Ryan Dempster pitch hits him Sunday night at Fenway. AP Photo/Michael Dwyer

When Dempster plunked Rodriguez in the elbow with a fastball, it resulted in both benches being issued warnings, the ejection of Yankees manager Joe Girardi and the bullpens of both teams emptying onto the field. No punches were thrown.

With the Fenway crowd chanting "You're a cheater" to start the second inning, Dempster's first pitch to Rodriguez, an 89 mph fastball, sailed behind him, nearly catching him on the left leg.

After two more inside fastballs, Dempster's 3-0 pitch nailed Rodriguez squarely on the left elbow pad. Rodriguez interpreted it as Dempster's way of saying he did not like how Rodriguez has handled the 211-game suspension for performance-enhancing drug violations that Rodriguez is appealing.

"Whether you like me or hate, that was wrong," said Rodriguez, who finished the night with three hits and raised his average to .319 in 47 at-bats. "That was unprofessional and silly. It was kind of a silly way to get someone hurt on your team as well."

Dempster said, "I was just trying to pitch inside."

After the hit-by-pitch, home plate umpire Brian O'Nora issued the warnings as an enraged Girardi charged out of the Yankees' dugout, gesticulating wildly. Girardi was kicked out after one of his gestures, which looked like a left hook, nearly hit O'Nora.

After the more than-four-hour game, Girardi was still fuming, pointing out that Dempster had hit only five batters in 145 1/3 innings. He said that he will be "disappointed" if Dempster isn't suspended a long enough period by MLB that he misses a start. And that he wishes that Dempster had to bat for himself.