ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Tampa Bay's Gerald Williams, Dave Eiland and Larry Rothschild were ejected in the first three innings Tuesday night of the Devil Rays' game against the Boston Red Sox.

A total of eight Devil Rays -- four coaches and four players -- had been ejected through seven innings.

The original melee started when Boston's Pedro Martinez hit Williams near the left hand with a 1-2 pitch leading off the bottom of the first.

Williams charged the mound -- setting off a bench-clearing brawl -- and was ejected along with his manager, Rothschild.

There's another twist to the game: Martinez is pitching a no-hitter through 7 2/3 innings.

In the third, Eiland was ejected after hitting Brian Daubach and Nomar Garciaparra.

After getting hit in the first, Williams took a several steps toward first base, alternating his stare between his hand and Martinez. He then charged the mound and threw a right at Martinez. Williams was then tackled from behind by catcher Jason Varitek.

Williams was restrained by several different people, including teammate Greg Vaughn and Red Sox coach Jim Rice.

There was considerable pushing and shoving after both benches and bullpens emptied. Daubach, who emerged from the pile holding his left arm, was pushed from behind by Devil Rays closer Roberto Hernandez.

Red Sox third baseman Lou Merloni suffered a mild concussion during the brawl and was removed for pinch-hitter Manny Alexander in the third inning. Merloni is day to day, a Red Sox spokesman said.

Rothschild was ejected by umpire Tim McClelland for arguing that Martinez should have been thrown out. Martinez, who is winless in his past three starts against Tampa Bay, remained in the game.

The game was delayed 12 minutes.

In the third with runners on the corners with no outs, Daubach hit the dirt avoiding a high and inside pitch. On the next pitch, Daubach was hit by the Eiland. After Carl Everett hit a two-run double, Garciaparra was hit in the back and Eiland was ejected.

Devil Rays reliever Tony Fiore was ejected after hitting Daubach with a pitch in the seventh. He was the fifth Devil Ray to be ejected -- reliever Cory Lidle was ejected one pitch before Fiore came on for throwing behind Daubach, too.