"The result mattered. No reason to pretend otherwise.

The Red Sox won the game, won the series and expanded their lead on the Rays in the American League East. If you are a bottom-line person, that's as clear-cut as it gets.

But if you believe there is more to a 162-game season than an avalanche of box scores, then you might have applauded a pitching performance that was less than ideal.

For of the 106 pitches David Price threw in a laborious five-inning outing, there was one that was far more meaningful than the rest.

Before any runs had crossed the plate and any words could be spoken, Price hit Red Sox third baseman Kevin Youkilis in the shoulder with a fastball in the first inning.

Understand, it had nothing to do with a winning home run Youkilis hit Wednesday night. It had everything to do with Youkilis crossing a line, both literally and figuratively, on a meaningless ground ball Tuesday night.

That was when Youkilis kicked Rays first baseman Casey Kotchman on a play that was, at the least, suspicious looking.

"It's not uncommon when a pitcher pitches inside that a hitter can get hit on occasion," Rays manager Joe Maddon said. "It's tantamount to a runner running to first base, and on occasion he may step on a guy's leg."

So was it payback? Was it meant to be a message? Was it an act of solidarity?

Those answers are not important.

It was necessary, and that's what matters.

"If something happens and the next inning somebody gets hit, you pretty much understand what it's for," Rays third baseman Evan Longoria said. "Nobody really talks about it. It's just something that's been a part of the game for a long time.

"And I don't know if Dave's was intentional or not, but there are certain ways to handle things." "