The New York Yankees may not be enjoying their best season, but they aren’t stopping entertaining the fans. Despite a disappointing 2023 campaign that sees the Yankees trailing at the bottom of the AL East with only 62 wins so far this season, the Bronx Bombers are still turning it up every night. The lineup may not be not getting the big hits, but the Yankees’ gumption sure is making up.
When you’re part of a franchise as historic as the New York Yankees, you have to take pride in your history. Sometimes that also means that you have to stand up for yourself and let the other team know that you’re here to play. And when the trailing Yankees took on their division leading rivals in the Tampa Bay Rays, the Yankees refused to back down.
Benches Clear in Heated Exchange between the New York Yankees and the Tampa Bay Rays
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When Randy Arozarena took home plate for the Rays at the bottom of the eighth, most viewers will have believed that the game was already done. The Rays were leading 6-4 and despite Abreu turning in a decent performance on the night with his defense, the game looked to be done already. But that was far from the truth. Talkin Yanks updated this news with a caption, “Benches cleared TWICE and Randy was heated.”
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With a 3-1 count down, Abreu miscued one of his pitches and struck the batter at home plate only for the benches to clear. Arozarena was defiant in insisting that the hit was intentional and was ready to square up to the Yankees squad.
The game continued on however only to further instances of the same. Arozarena went on to steal second and third base and exchanged words at every play, causing the Benches to clear again.
While undoubtably a passionate sport, many fans seemed to be of the opinion that it was all a bit futile considering the Yankees aren’t contenders for the pennant anymore while the Rays certainly are.
Baseball Fans React to Heated Exchange
Fans from both camps took to social media to voice their opinion after the incident. While the overwhelming opinion seemed to be that getting upset on a miscued Abreu pitch was unfounded, others seemed to at least like the fact that the dead rubber was made that much more entertaining.
For real lmao. Like Abreu has any clue where the ball is ever going
— Mike Nash (@MikeNash15) August 27, 2023
Yes because Abreu, a GREAT pitcher, definitely wants to put people on base when his team is already trailing
— Steven R (@Re2pectjeta2) August 27, 2023
I hope the Yanks have a brawl every game the rest of the year to make this watchable and fun
— Mike Nash (@MikeNash15) August 27, 2023
Fans meanwhile also were upset with the Rays for risking action over a team that wasn’t even in the running for a post season anymore.
Why are the rays getting into with a non playoff team
— Vlad27JR OVERRATED 🗑 (@Scottie4Barnes) August 27, 2023
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The New York Yankees didn’t stay silent either. Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton knew that the game was coming to them and they responded in kind. Suggested that if the benches cleared the Rays would have considerable problems to deal with considering the towering frames on their roster.
Yeahh it’s all fun and games until you have to square up with these two pic.twitter.com/W4UFA7iAfS
— Jonny's Lasagna ⚾️ (@JLasagna43) August 27, 2023
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When the benches clear, it’s really both the teams that could have done things differently. But the baseball is a product of the players that play it, and if passion is what you’re looking for, the Tropicana Field certainly had plenty of drama to look forward to.
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