It didn't quite rise to the level of the April game at Fenway in which benches cleared, actual punches were thrown and suspensions followed, but it did get pretty hot between the Red Sox and Yankees Friday night.
In the top of the first, after getting ahead of Brett Gardner 0-and-2, Rick Porcello hit Gardner in right triceps. Gardner glared at Porcello and took his base.
Then, in the bottom of the inning, New York starter Luis Severino came in high and tight with his first pitch to Red Sox leadoff hitter Mookie Betts. Immediately, home plate umpire Adam Hamari warned both benches, which brought Alex Cora out of the dugout like he was shot out of a cannon.
Hamari tried to wave Cora away, but the Red Sox manager persisted and within seconds was ejected, further enraging him. He had to be led away by crew chief Phil Cuzzi.
https://twitter.com/Soxlunch/status/1025522753863069701
CORA WALKOFF: Alex Cora takes a not-so thinly veiled shot at Luis Severino when asked if tonight’s animosity is over with Yankees pic.twitter.com/k4apt54swX
— Mike Petraglia (@Trags) August 4, 2018
- The Red Sox lead in the division is 7.5 games, the largest for the franchise since September of 2013.
- Over the last 26 games, the Red Sox are 21-5 for an .808 winning percentage.
- At 2:15, this was the shortest Red Sox-Yankees game since May 6, 1994.
- In eight career starts against the Yankees at Fenway, Porcello is 5-3 with a 1.25 ERA.
- In his first 43 games this season, Pearce had five homers; he has four in his last two.
- J.D. Martinez has reached base in 47 straight home games.