It got heated last night at the Yankees/Red Sox game (as expected). I was watching my Giants last night, so I didn’t when this happened, but I’m still surprised that Dempster avoided an on-field punishment AND there was no retaliation (but there was payback). Red Sox pitcher Ryan Dempster threw at Alex Rodriguez three times before hitting A-Rod on his fourth try. Benches cleared and Joe Girardi was tossed. Check out what happened & reactions after the jump…
Via ESPN:
In the second inning, Boston Red Sox starter Ryan Dempster drilled New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez with 3-0, 92-mph fastball. In the sixth, Rodriguez drilled Dempster for a long solo homer run that sparked the Yankees’ come-from-behind victory.
“It was the ultimate payback,” Rodriguez said after the team’s 9-6 win.
When Dempster plunked Rodriguez in the elbow with a fastball, it resulted in both benches being issued warnings, the ejection of Yankees manager Joe Girardi, and the bullpens of both teams emptying onto the field. No punches were thrown.
“Whether you like me or hate, that was wrong,” said Rodriguez, who finished the night with three hits and raised his average to .319 in 47 at-bats. “That was unprofessional and silly. It was kind of a silly way to get someone hurt on your team as well.”
Dempster said, “I was just trying to pitch inside.”
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Yankees manager Joe Girardi was ejected after storming out of the dugout to holler at plate umpire Brian O’Nora, who warned both benches immediately after Rodriguez was plunked by Ryan Dempster’s 3-0 pitch leading off the second inning. It struck his left elbow pad and ricocheted off his back.
Girardi felt the incident sparked the Yankees.
“I’m sure it did,” he said. “They rallied and responded.”
“You can’t start throwing at people,” Girardi said. “Lives — people have had concussions. Lives are changed by getting hit by pitches. Whether I agree with everything that’s going on, you do not throw at people and you don’t take the law into your own hands. You don’t do that. We’re going to skip the judicial system? It’s ‘My Cousin Vinny.’ ”
Rodriguez was asked if he agreed that Dempster should be suspended.
“I’m the wrong guy to be asking about suspensions,” Rodriguez said with a chuckle. “Holy mackerel.”
“Joe’s reaction was amazing,” Rodriguez said. “Every single one of my teammates came up to me and said, ‘Hit a bomb and walk it off.’ ”
(Story Continues….)
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