ST. PETERSBURG — Dealing with one another for the ultimate time this season, the Rays and Yankees’ heated rivalry reignited Sunday afternoon at Tropicana Area throughout Tampa Bay’s 7-4 win.
Yankees reliever Albert Abreu started the eighth inning by hitting All-Star outfielder Randy Arozarena with a 95.5 mph sinker, the second time this yr that Abreu has plunked Arozarena. It was additionally the fourth time in Sunday’s sport, the fifth time on this three-game sequence and the twelfth time this yr {that a} Rays hitter was hit by a pitch from the Yankees.
Arozarena was instantly upset, gesturing towards the mound earlier than each dugouts emptied onto the sector. He stole second and third off Abreu, and the 2 exchanged phrases once more as Arozarena went to retrieve his helmet. As soon as once more, each benches cleared.
There have been no ejections or punches thrown, however the long-running rigidity was clear as each golf equipment met on the sector. Rays infielder Yandy Díaz, who hasn’t performed the previous two days after being plunked within the left forearm by a Jonathan Loáisiga pitch on Friday evening, appeared notably upset as he joined the primary fray.
There’s lots of historical past and animosity between the American League East rivals, particularly over inside pitches, a feud that peaked when Aroldis Chapman threw over Mike Brosseau’s head through the 2020 season.