"I went to a fight and a hockey game broke out" - Rodney DangerfieldTheatrics broke out in Fenway Park last night as the teams went at in a bench clearing brawl. A little background first though. Monday night Red Sox pitcher Brad Penny nailed the Tigers' best hitter, 1st baseman Miguel Cabrera on his left, thankfully, padded elbow. Later in the game, Edwin Jackson hit the Red Sox best hitter, Kevin Youkilis in apparent retaliation. Youkilis wasn't pleased, but went to 1st base.
Last night, Red Sox starter Junichi Tazawa hit Cabrera again, this time on the hand. It was clearly unintentional as the pitch was nearly over the plate and Cabrera's hands tend to be in the strike zone. But after Cabrera had to leave the game during his next at-bat, Tigers starter Rick Porcello nailed Youkilis in the back. There would be no direct path to 1st base this time. Youkilis charged at the perplexed Porcello, who seemed to be putting on a good act of playing innocent.
Porcello at first retreated, but Youkilis flipped his helmet at the pitcher and then tried to tackle him. But Porcello side stepped the charging bull and threw him to the ground like a rag doll (or Don Zimmer).
Both players were obviously ejected and will faces fines and suspensions, especially Youkilis, not only for charging the mound, but for using his helmet as a weapon (thank God he didn't use sex as a weapon).
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I tend to believe the pitch by Porcello was unintentional, considering his reaction right after the pitch is thrown. He definitely meant to come inside on V-Mart, but putting Youkilis on base intentionally while having a lead AND competing for the division would just be beyond stupid.
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