Coming into Thursday afternoon’s game, the New York Yankees had been on a tear the last two games. They were in Detroit for a three-game series against Justin Upton and the Tigers, and the team was certainly showing off by scoring a combined twenty three runs in the first two games, looking for a sweep. Once Thursday came around, however, more than just the baseball would be getting hit.
The brawl began in the fifth inning after Yankees catcher Gary Sanchez was plunked in the hip by Detroit starter Michael Fulmer. Umpire crew chief Dana DeMuth issued warnings for both sides, but when Yankees reliever Tommy Kahnle threw behind Miguel Cabrera, well, that is when all hell broke loose. He was soon ejected after that pitch, but it did not end there.
Following Kahnle’s ejection, Miguel Cabrera wanted answers. Cabrera asked Yankees catcher Austin Romine if he had a problem with him. Romine attempted to tell Cabrera that there was no issue, but Cabrera was not having it. He shoved Romine, unprovoked, and it lead to a benches clearing brawl right in front of home plate. Sanchez soon stepped in to defend his teammate.
Overall, between both teams, EIGHT players were ejected in Thursday’s affair. Both Joe Girardi and Brad Ausmus, managers of the two clubs, expressed their frustrations and disbeliefs. Most likely, suspensions and fines will be handed out, but that’s all up to the Commissioner’s office. Thankfully, these teams do not play each other more this season, but it looks like we may have a new rivalry on our hands. Tigers’ pitcher Justin Verlander summed up it up best on Twitter
— Justin Verlander (@JustinVerlander) August 24, 2017
