The New York Yankees and the Tampa Bay Rays faced off in an AL East battle on Sunday. As division rivals, there is obviously plenty of animosity between the two teams. And tempers flared in the bottom of the eighth inning, as multiple incidents led to both teams clearing their benches onto the field twice in the inning.
Rays star outfielder Randy Arozarena led off the inning against Yankees relief pitcher Albert Abreu. And things didn’t get off to a good start, as Abreu plunked Arozarena with his fifth pitch of the at-bat.
Arozarena took exception to this, needing to be held back by both home-plate umpire Adam Beck and Yankees catcher Kyle Higashioka.
Here is the HBP that led to the benches clearing in today's game during the bottom of the 8th inning… pic.twitter.com/gY9CG4Wj68
— Bally Sports Sun: Rays (@BallyRays) August 27, 2023
Arozarena was actually the fourth Rays batter to be hit by a Yankees pitcher in the game, so he certainly had a reason to be upset. As Arozarena continued to voice his frustrations to the umpire, both teams ran onto the field to confront each other.
Luckily things didn’t escalate, but this was far from the only drama to happen in the inning.
Arozarena took his frustration out on the Yankees by stealing both second and third base in the next at-bat. And after he stole third, it looks like Albert Abreu and Arozarena exchanged words, which led to another benches-clearing incident.
Randy steals second and third and then has words for Abreu 😳 pic.twitter.com/vfw33p2yOC
— Bally Sports Sun: Rays (@BallyRays) August 27, 2023
Luckily bother players were held back again and things didn’t go any further, but fans had plenty to say about the drama-filled inning on social media.
This was as fake a baseball fight as they come 😂
Randy Arozarena had plenty of time after stealing third to charge Albert Abreu if he was that mad. pic.twitter.com/hW1TKAhGjZ
— Joe Randazzo 📚📕📖 (@LibrarianJoe_) August 27, 2023
Yankees intentionally hitting Randy Arozarena because they can’t get him out.
A real loser franchise. pic.twitter.com/Ng2g13LwOa
— Jordan Moore (@iJordanMoore) August 27, 2023
Benches clear as Randy Arozarena becomes the latest Ray to get hit today. He was extremely angry. Hard to tell from up here, but Albert Abreu didn't appear to diffuse the situation. #Yankees #Rays pic.twitter.com/OtXiFId9vX
— Gary Phillips (@GaryHPhillips) August 27, 2023
Randy Arozarena is such a fake tough guy. Obviously Abreu didn’t mean to hit you, he just sucks lol.
— Jacob P.M.🌔 (@JacobBSpeaks) August 27, 2023
Arozarena spoke about the incidents after the game, where he claimed that he was upset throughout the inning because he believes that Abreu hit him intentionally.
“I think it was on purpose. If you look back at previous series, he’s hit me before, they hit and hurt Yandy (Diaz) the other day, and they hit (Isaac) Parades.”
Spoke with Randy Arozarena and he says he does believe they hit him intentionally.
“I think it was on purpose. If you look back at previous series, he's hit me before, they hit and hurt Yandy the other day and they hit Paredes.”
Asked him: “Why do you think they did it on…
— Tricia Whitaker (@TriciaWhitaker) August 27, 2023
Meanwhile, Abreu also spoke about the situation, saying that he did not intentionally try to hit Arozarena.
“He’s taking it very personal and I’m trying to explain ‘I’m not trying to hit you there’. It felt like he was trying to make fun of the situation or the fact that he stole two bases, I don’t know. Just heat of the moment there.”
Albert Abreu said he tried to explain to Randy Arozarena that he didn't hit him on purpose. Arozarena brought up Abreu hitting him in May.
"I'm definitely not trying to hit him."
Here's Abreu on the 2nd #Yankees–#Rays skirmish: pic.twitter.com/ojwTnqkPzm
— Gary Phillips (@GaryHPhillips) August 27, 2023
Regardless of whether or not Arozarena was hit intentionally, it seems pretty clear that there is some bad blood between these two teams. The Rays got the last laugh in this game, winning the game 7-4.
