New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox brawl after batter hit by 98mph pitch
Both benches emptied as a fight broke out that resulted in a trio of ejections
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Your support makes all the difference.A baseball game between the New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox descended into violence after a batter was hit by a 98mph pitch.
In a matchup between teams that have long tangled, Gary Sanchez hit two home runs in a game that twice saw the benches empty and a fight that resulted in a trio of ejections.
The benches cleared briefly in the third inning after Tyler Austin's spikes clipped Brock Holt's leg on a slide into second base. Holt took issue with the contact and they exchanged words before being separated.
Then with the Yankees leading 10-6 in the seventh, relieve pitcher Joe Kelly nearly hit Austin and then caught him on the side with a 2-1 pitch clocked at 98 mph. Austin slammed his bat on the plate, threw it down and took four steps toward the mound while shouting. Kelly waved Austin at him, and things quickly escalated.
The scuffle spilled across the field before it broke up in front of the Boston dugout on the first base side, with Yankees sluggers Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton pushing the pile. Yankees hitting coach Marcus Thames used both hands to shove Austin all the way across the infield toward the New York dugout.
Austin, Kelly and Yankees third base coach Phil Nevin were ejected.
It was the second bench-clearing brawl of the day in MLB. Colorado star Nolan Arenado charged the mound after being a pitch from San Diego's Luis Perdomo threw a pitch behind him.
New York and Boston have a history of furious fights.
Thurman Munson collided with catcher Carlton Fisk in 1973 after Gene Michael missed a bunt attempt. Three years later, Lou Piniella bowled into Fisk at the plate, and Red Sox pitcher Bill Lee separated a shoulder in the ensuing fighting.
After Roger Clemens threw a pitch under Manny Ramirez's chin during the 2003 AL Championship Series, Yankees bench coach Don Zimmer charged Pedro Martinez, who hit Karim Garcia with a pitch earlier. Martinez picked up Zimmer and threw him to the ground.
A year later, Boston's Bronson Arroyo hit Alex Rodriguez with a pitch, A-Rod shouted at the pitcher, and Red Sox catcher Jason Varitek punched Rodriguez in the face, setting off a scuffle.
The Yankees went on to win the game 10-7 to end Boston's nine-game winning run.
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