Everett back for Red Sox

Carl Everett's return to the Boston Red Sox did not come without controversy. Everett, who served a 10-game suspension for bumping and butting an umpire on 15 July, was welcomed back with a standing ovation from the Fenway Park faithful when he came to bat in the first inning of Saturday's game against the Kansas City Royals.

Carl Everett's return to the Boston Red Sox did not come without controversy. Everett, who served a 10-game suspension for bumping and butting an umpire on 15 July, was welcomed back with a standing ovation from the Fenway Park faithful when he came to bat in the first inning of Saturday's game against the Kansas City Royals.

Some three hours earlier, however, Everett engaged in an expletive-laced argument with Boston's manager Jimmy Williams. Although Williams would not reveal the nature of the argument, speculation was that it centred around Everett not joining the team for a day during his suspension.

The Red Sox went 5-5 without Everett, who had a run-scoring single in the seventh inning and a solo homer in the ninth of Saturday's 7-5 loss to the Royals.

"Carl and I just had a little bit of a heated conversation before the game but it is staying in-house," Williams said. "Judging from his performance in the game, it didn't affect him. He could have had two home runs, not just one. So it's just nice to have him back."

Among the midseason candidates for American League Most Valuable Player honours, Everett was suspended by baseball vice-president of on-field operations Frank Robinson for "arguing, using foul language and making contact with an umpire on two occasions" against the New York Mets.

There was speculation the penalty would be more severe, considering Everett gave baseball one of its ugliest moments of the season when he bumped and appeared to head-butt plate umpire Ron Kulpa.

Kulpa had twice warned the player get his right foot inside the batter's box while hitting from the right side and finally dragged his foot across the line of the batter's box - a move that enraged Everett. Three of his team-mates were needed to restrain him as he expressed his displeasure.

Acquired from the Houston Astros in the off-season, Everett leads the team with 27 homers and 76 RBI and is batting .320. He was signed to a four-year, $30m contract this season. The Red Sox are second in the American League East with a 56-50 record, 3,5 games behind the New York Yankees.