Game-over horn mix-up clears Jays, Rays benches

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The foghorn blared as it usually does, to signal the successful conclusion to a Toronto Blue Jays game at Rogers Centre on Monday night.

Roberto Osuna, the reliable Toronto closer, was even going through his normal post-game routine after mopping up – crossing himself and then gazing up towards the heavens in thanks for another job well done.

Only trouble was, the game against the Tampa Bay Rays was not yet over.

What fooled the game operations people at Rogers Centre in a wacky top of the ninth inning also got the better of Osuna.

And there was still a little bit of drama to be played out with the Blue Jays hanging on for a 3-2 victory in a game that finally ended with a testosterone-charged, dugout-emptying melee near first base.

The zaniness began with two out in the top of the ninth and Osuna in to protect Toronto's one-run lead.

Steven Souza Jr. was at the plate, representing the last hope for the Rays, when he swung through an Osuna pitch for what appeared to many in the stadium, to be strike three and game over.

It certainly seemed that way to the person with their finger on the game-over celebration button as it did to Osuna.

Only trouble was, Souza fouled the ball giving him a second life after Osuna and company realized the game had not yet ended.

"To be honest, I didn't see when Russ dropped the ball," said Osuna.

Two pitches later, Souza put a charge into the ball that sent Toronto centrefielder Kevin Pillar scurrying back to the warning track to make the catch, to officially halt proceedings.

But as Souza headed for first base on the play, he started exchanging some words with Toronto shortstop Troy Tulowitzki, who had quickly made his way towards the right side of the baseball diamond to start yelling in the face of the Rays outfielder.

Both dugouts emptied and, after a lot of milling about and chest beating, things broke up without any damage being caused.

Martin said the entire incident was a big misunderstanding that began with a casual comment he made to Souza after he hit the ball that Pillar caught.

"I told him he crushed that ball, I though he got it (for a home run)," Martin said. "And before I could really get my message across, Tulo jumped in and was like a ball of fire.

"But in the end I got to tell (Souza), 'Hey, you really did crush that ball." And he said, 'Yeah, I know.' And that was it."

When approached after the game in the Toronto clubhouse for comment, Tulowitzki said he was sorry but he didn't have time, and walked off.

Souza agreed with Martin's version of the events that unfolded but said that Tulowitzki was a bit out of hand.

"He just maybe said some stuff below the belt that I'm not going to repeat," Souza said. "We'll leave it on the field.

"They're trying to win a pennant, I'm not going to hold it against him."