Nick Cafardo files the “conventional wisdom” report in the Globe today, regarding yesterday’s ugly Sox game. Cafardo’s lede:

On a day when payback and brushbacks and two bench-clearing events were the show at Tropicana Field, the Red Sox, losers of two straight one-run games and the target of errant and/or purpose pitches, decided they had endured enough from the young, small-market Devil Rays.

The Sox fought their way to an 11-3 win to claim one game of the three-game series, but, more important, they salvaged their pride before their return to Boston last night.

“Salvaged their pride?” These are the Devil Rays. The Sox shouldn’t be losing 2 out of 3 to the DRays. That’s the story. Maybe the continued carrying of 12 pitchers while Bill Mueller’s absence continues to leave the Sox with a short bench. That’s another story. How about Francona’s mismanagement of the bullpen in the early going of the season, particularly in this Devil Rays series? That’s another fine story. Maybe something on Schilling’s early season struggles, something about how thick pitchers coming off leg injuries are likely to be a significant risk?

Nope, Cafardo files a completely predictable account of the game, focusing entirely on the grossly overblown beanball battle and subsequent bench clearing festivities. Honestly, the whole getting indignant thing when you get hit by a pitch is getting old. Batters these days have a huge advantage over pitchers, as they’re allowed to crowd the plate and don’t have to worry about a high strike. So get over it already.

And the need to retalliate so that you can defend your hitters? Whatever. Yes, Ortiz got buzzed, and the Rays got warned. Isn’t that enough? What good does it serve having Arroyo go back out there and nail someone else? How does that protect anyone? All that does is raise everyone’s ire and make it more likely that these teams will engage in this behavior the next time they’re together, just like it’s happened in a series every year for the past 3 or 4 seasons.

Just an embarrassing series for the Sox.