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Alfredo Aceves won’t be disciplined by Red Sox

Alfredo Aceves (right) took the long way to the dugout after being given the hook in Wednesday night’s game.john tlumacki/globe staff

The Red Sox held internal discussions Thursday regarding the erratic behavior of Alfredo Aceves, but elected not to discipline the righthander.

When Aceves was taken out of the game in the seventh inning Wednesday night, he left it to catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia to hand the ball to manager Bobby Valentine. The pitcher then left the mound from the third base side, making it a very public point to avoid Valentine.

Last month, Aceves was suspended for three games for an incident that included slamming the door of Valentine’s office after an angry discussion regarding his not being used in a game.

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On Sept. 1, Aceves got into a heated discussion with Dustin Pedroia in the dugout in Oakland after making a series of pickoff throws the second baseman wasn’t expecting. They had to be separated.

“You always want people around who know the difference between right and wrong, and sometimes when people don’t know the difference between right and wrong, you can talk all day long to them and it doesn’t matter,” Valentine said Thursday. “In Alfredo’s case, I think that he understands what he’s doing.

“That means when you know you do something wrong, then you understand that there’s also consequence.”

Valentine, who has spoken well of Aceves’s performance on the mound over the course of the season, was asked if the recent incidents have changed his view.

“I think I knew what I was dealing with from spring training,” said Valentine. “You just try and manage every situation that you have to have to try and manage. He’s a good pitcher.”

Could Aceves have a lesser role on the staff for the remaining games?

“We have a lot of pitchers,” Valentine said. “When we need him, he’ll still pitch.”

Aceves spent some time during batting practice hitting balls to fans in the Monster Seats while standing near the first base line.

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No word on Ross

The Red Sox are waiting to hear whether Cody Ross will face a suspension from Major League Baseball after his ejection Wednesday following a called third strike in the eighth inning.

Ross never bumped umpire Alfonso Marquez, but was so enraged that he had to be restrained from getting close to him.

Ross had no comment when he arrived at the park Thursday.

“I don’t know how the system works,” Valentine said. “It used to be you had to touch someone or say something really bad. [Ross] seemed like a guy who was into the moment, got excited. That used to be acceptable, but I don’t know how the system is working these days.”

Valentine, who also was ejected, has been tossed six times this season. That’s a franchise record for a player or manager.

“That’s a record, huh? Wow,” he said. “I’m surprised. I can tell you . . . I’ve done less in all six times than I’ve ever done before.”

A Pedroia baby

Kelli and Dustin Pedroia welcomed their second son into the world Thursday morning. Mother and baby are doing fine, according to the Red Sox. Pedroia did not play Thursday. His plans beyond that were not revealed. Pedroia left Wednesday’s game after the sixth inning when his wife went into labor . . . Righthander John Lackey, who is rehabilitating from Tommy John elbow surgery done last Nov. 1, threw 20 pitches of live batting practice on the field before the game. “He felt even better than he looked last time and looked better than he did last time,” Valentine said. “His velocity is pretty good, I’ll tell you that.” Lackey’s next step will be a two-inning simulated game. The goal is to pitch a few innings in the Instructional League in Florida in the next few weeks.

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Cos and effect

Bill Cosby, who worked closely with Sox chairman Tom Werner during his television career, threw out the first pitch before the game. Larry David, a Yankees fan, was in a seat near the Red Sox dugout (there was no word on whether he took the HOV lane to the game). Actor Jon Hamm also was on hand . . . The Yankees are 10-5 against the Sox this season, winning seven of the nine games played at Fenway. The Sox have lost the season series for the first time since 2007 . . . The Yankees shut out the Sox for the first time since Sept. 26, 2009 . . . Alex Rodriguez, who scored in the fourth inning, has 1,888 runs in his career. That ties Lou Gehrig for ninth all time . . . Kudos to Jackie Dempsey, one of the Red Sox ball girls. She was on the field before the game taking grounders from coach Jerry Royster to improve her skills. Bench coach Tim Bogar was giving her pointers, too. Dempsey, who also works in the front office, played infield for the Villanova softball team after starring at Lexington High.


Peter Abraham can be reached at pabraham@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @PeteAbe.

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