OAKLAND, Calif. - Some of the Athletics were furious with Derek Lowe, accusing the Red Sox pitcher of making obscene gestures toward them after he struck out Terrence Long to finish Boston's 4-3 victory in the AL division series Monday night.
"It's a situation where if you did anything where you offended anyone, I'm sorry," Lowe said. "I was swinging my arms around. I don't know what I did. I did the same crazy thing I do every game."
The A's thought Lowe simulated a sexual act with his arms and made a gesture toward his crotch after the final out, sending Oakland shortstop Miguel Tejada into a rage in the clubhouse moments later.
"Derek Lowe is going to be paid back for that sign," Tejada screamed as he shouted expletives. "My kid is in the stands. He's going to pay."
Oakland general manager Billy Beane escorted the crying Tejada away.
Tejada later was told that Lowe apologized.
"I feel better now that I hear he apologizes," Tejada said after calming down. "He was jumping around and making a scene. They have families up there, we have families up there."
HUDSON REPORT DENIED: Tim Hudson was involved in a minor confrontation at a Boston bar Friday night, but the A's said it didn't cause the injury that limited him to one inning in his start two days later.
Manager Ken Macha told ESPN's SportsCenter that Hudson and left-hander Barry Zito were signing autographs at the bar the night before Game 3 of the division series against the Red Sox.
The players and Hudson's brother had to be separated from several Red Sox fans after a confrontation, but Hudson told Macha no punches were thrown. "I think it's a nonissue," Macha said.
DAMON HURT IN COLLISION: Boston centerfielder Johnny Damon was knocked unconscious and carried off on a stretcher after violently banging heads with second baseman Damian Jackson while chasing Jermaine Dye's popup in the seventh.
Damon was on the ground for nine minutes before being taken off the field in an ambulance. He had a concussion but was alert and awake when he was taken to Highland Hospital, the Red Sox said.
SURGERY FOR MIENTKIEWICZ: Twins first baseman Doug Mientkiewicz will have surgery today to clean up loose cartilage in his left wrist.
