Four days after the tragic death of pitcher Nick Adenhart brought the entire organization together in mourning, the Angels again showed their resolve with a bench-clearing skirmish Sunday against the Boston Red Sox.

The incident, which led to the ejections of Manager Mike Scioscia, hitting coach Mickey Hatcher, outfielder Torii Hunter and reliever Justin Speier, capped one of the most trying weeks in the 49-year history of the Angels organization - but one that led to another display of on-field camaraderie.

"We're like a family here," Abreu said following the Angels' 5-4 win over the Red Sox at Angel Stadium. "You can see what's happening outside. We're a family. We go down together and we win together."

It began in the first inning, with Chone Figgins at second base and Abreu at the plate against Red Sox ace Josh Beckett. Abreu called for time, which was granted by home plate umpire Paul Schreiber. Beckett threw anyway. His 92 mph fastball sailed within inches of Abreu's head and hit the backstop.

"Did he throw it up and in? Yeah," said Joe West, chief of the umpiring crew. "Do we believe he threw it at Abreu? No."

Said Beckett: "Hitting somebody in the head is not on my list of things to accomplish."

Said Scioscia: "That was as flagrant as anything I've seen in this game."

Abreu turned to face Beckett, extending his arms to ask what happened. Beckett advanced toward Abreu. Both dugouts and bullpens came pouring onto the field. After a few minutes of arguing, Scioscia instructed his players back into the dugout. They complied, as did both bullpens.

But Scioscia returned to the field and the benches cleared again.

"I was holding a lot of guys back and just some words were said that were just outrageous," Hunter said. "And it wasn't from the Red Sox. I freaking lost it."

Although no punches were thrown, Speier, Hatcher, Hunter and, ultimately Scioscia, had to be restrained by teammates and coaches. All four were ejected. Beckett was issued a warning.

"The Angels were the aggressors," West said. "That's why they were ejected."

The ejected Angels retreated to the clubhouse to catch the rest of the game on television. They missed another outstanding effort by Moseley, who held a potent Red Sox lineup to two earned runs in 5 2/3 innings. And they missed the Angels' three-run third inning, which gave the them a lead they wouldn't relinquish.

Up 4-3 in the top of the eighth inning, Angels reliever Scot Shields walked the bases loaded, but he coaxed both Mike Lowell and Jason Varitek to fly out to end the inning. Vladimir Guerrero led off the eighth inning with a home run to give the Angels a 5-3 lead. Closer Brian Fuentes gave one back in the ninth, hitting Nick Green and allowing back-to-back singles to David Ortiz and Kevin Youkilis. But with the tying run on second base, Fuentes struck out J.D. Drew looking to end the game - and an exhausting and emotional week for the Angels .

"To make a comeback like that?" Abreu said. "That's the most important thing - that we won the game."

Reach Michael Becker

at mbecker@PE.com