The Yankees went to Fenway Park last night, and, for one of the first times this season, looked like the team they’re supposed to be:
BOSTON, June 1 – They are far apart in the standings. One team threatening to run away with the American League East, the other still well under .500. But passion is the lifeblood of the rivalry between the Yankees and the Boston Red Sox, and that blood was still boiling Friday.
Five players were hit by pitches in the Yankees’ 9-5 victory at Fenway Park, which ended with Mariano Rivera on the mound and Joe Torre and Scott Proctor in the clubhouse, both having been ejected in separate incidents.
“We need to be a little more fiery,” Torre said. “I’m not saying that’s going to be my new personality. But I think we showed fight tonight. We really need to assert ourselves.”
Proctor asserted himself in the ninth inning, with one out and the bases empty, against Kevin Youkilis. The teams had traded hit batsmen early in the game, when Chien-Ming Wang knocked Mike Lowell from the game with a contusion of the left hand in the third inning and Kyle Snyder hit Alex Rodriguez in the fourth.
“You don’t assume intent,” Snyder said. “It’s our responsibility on this team, as pitchers, to protect hitters.”
In the ninth, Proctor was pitching after Javier L?pez plunked Robinson Can? in the top of the inning. Proctor’s 2-2 fastball knocked Youkilis to the ground and hit him on the left jersey sleeve.
Proctor was immediately ejected, and although Youkilis tossed the bat to the ground and took a step toward the mound, he did not charge. Torre said he believed the plate umpire, Brian O’Nora, was reacting to Youkilis more than the pitch itself.
“But with the two teams involved,” Torre conceded, “I’m not surprised.”
A bitter New York-Boston rivarly. Just like it’s supposed to be.
