ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Tempers flared between the Yankees and the Rays in the bottom of the eighth on Sunday, when Albert Abreu drilled Randy Arozarena with a pitch with the Yankees down by two runs.
It was the fourth time a Yankee pitcher hit a Tampa Bay hitter in the series finale.
Arozarena stood at the plate and yelled at Abreu before both benches emptied and while some heated words were exchanged, there were no punches.
Tensions escalated again later in the inning when Arozarena swiped second and then stole third. Arozarena yelled at Abreu from third and the benches cleared again- and again, no one threw any punches- or ejections.
Arozarena then scored on a two-out double by Brandon Lowe to give the Rays a 7-4 lead.
The drama between the teams started Friday night, when Jonathan Loaisiga hit Yandy Diaz and Diaz hasn’t played since.
It escalated Sunday, as Carlos Rodon hit Osleivis Basabe in the first, Ian Hamilton hit Isaac Paredes with his first pitch of the game in the fifth and then hit Jonathan Aranda in the sixth.
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