By KYLE HIGHTOWER
The Associated Press
BOSTON — The fuse has officially been lit in the newest chapter of the ramped-up Yankees-Red Sox rivalry.
Zim vs. Pedro. A-Rod vs. Varitek. Munson vs. Fisk.
And now, Tyler Austin tangling with Joe Kelly.
In a matchup between clubs that have long clashed, Austin rushed the mound after being hit by a pitch from the Red Sox reliever, triggering a bench-clearing brawl Wednesday night as New York ended Boston’s nine-game winning streak with a 10-7 victory.
“It’s Yankees-Red Sox. That’s what everybody wants. That’s what they got,” Boston starter David Price said.
Austin slid spikes-first into shortstop Brock Holt at second base in the third inning. No surprise, the sides saw it differently
Four innings later, the Red Sox retaliated.
“Two competitive teams going at it and stuff happens,” Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said. “But sometimes stuff shouldn’t happen and there was no reason for fisticuffs to have to happen based on that slide at second base.”
Gary Sanchez hit two home runs in a game that twice saw the benches empty and a fight that resulted in four ejections.
And no telling what might happen in the series finale Thursday night at Fenway Park.
“I think it’s probably over with,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. “Hopefully put this to bed.”
A day after the Red Sox romped 14-1, the benches cleared briefly in the third after Austin’s spikes clipped Holt’s leg on a slide into second base. Holt took issue with the contact and they exchanged words before being separated.
“I probably said something I shouldn’t have to start the whole thing, so I’m sorry for that,” Holt said. “But I just wanted him to know that it was a bad slide, and I think everyone on the field knows that it was, and I think he knows that now, too.”
Said Austin: “I thought there was absolutely nothing wrong with that slide. I had no thought that they were going to throw at me.”
With the Yankees leading 10-6 in the seventh, Kelly nearly hit Austin with an 0-1 pitch.
“I thought it was over after that,” Austin said.
Far from it.
Two pitches later, Kelly caught him on the side with a 98 mph heater. Austin slammed his bat on the plate, threw it down and took four steps toward the mound while hollering. Kelly waved Austin at him, and things quickly got out of hand.
“It escalated,” Holt said.
Kelly hit Austin a couple of times, and the Yankees designated hitter wound up with a swollen lip.
Trying to hit Kelly, Austin instead tagged Red Sox third base coach Carlos Febles.
The scuffle spilled across the field before it broke up in front of the Boston dugout on the first base side, with Yankees sluggers Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton pushing the pile. Yankees hitting coach Marcus Thames used both hands to shove Austin all the way across the infield toward the New York dugout.
Kelly had visible red marks on his neck after the game.
“I was ready to defend myself,” he said. “Someone comes on my property and in my backyard — I’ve got two dogs and if you come on my property and I feel like I was getting attacked then I’m going to have to defend myself.”
Austin, Kelly, Yankees reliever Tommy Kahnle and third base coach Phil Nevin were ejected.
White Sox 2, Rays 1
CHICAGO — Matt Davidson hit a two-run homer off Austin Pruitt (1-2) in the eighth inning and Chicago improved to 1-5 at home, matching its worst home start since 1975 at Comiskey Park.
Mariners 4, Royals 2
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Kyle Seager hit a go-ahead homer with two outs in the eighth off Justin Grimm (0-1).
James Paxton matched a career-best with 10 strikeouts over six sharp innings before turning it over to his bullpen. Nick Vincent (1-0) worked a perfect seventh, and Edwin Diaz got three outs for his fourth save.
Twins 9, Astros 8
MINNEAPOLIS — Max Kepler hit his second home run of the game, connecting for a solo drive with two outs in the bottom off Brad Peacock (1-1) as Minnesota rebounded after wasting an 8-1 lead.
Indians 5, Tigers 1
CLEVELAND — Detroit pitcher Jordan Zimmermann bruised the right side of his jaw when hit in the face by a line drive off the bat of Cleveland’s Jason Kipnis and left after two batters. Zimmermann said after the game he should be able to take his next turn.
Carlos Carrasco (3-0) pitched a three-hitter, allowing Leonys Martin’s home run in the sixth.
Orioles 5, Blue Jays 3
BALTIMORE — Jonathan Schoop drove in two runs, and Kevin Gausman (1-1) allowed three runs and six hits in six innings. Brad Brach worked the ninth for his third save.
Marco Estrada (1-1) allowed four runs and six hits in four-plus innings.
Angels 7, Rangers 2
ARLINGTON, Texas — Shohei Ohtani had an RBI single that put Los Angeles ahead to stay, and the Angels improved to 10-3 for the first time since 1982.
NATIONAL LEAGUE
Mets 4, Marlins 1
MIAMI — Marlins lefty Jarlin Garcia was pulled after pitching six hitless innings in his first major league start after 68 relief appearances last year as a rookie.
Rockies 6, Padres 4
DENVER — Rockies star Nolan Arenado charged the mound after a fastball from Luis Perdomo sailed behind him, setting off a brawl that resulted in five ejections.
Pedromo flung his glove at the rushing Arenado and missed. The big-hitting Arenado then threw a couple of punches at the backpedaling Perdomo but didn’t land anything squarely.
Arenado, Rockies starter German Marquez and Colorado outfielder Gerardo Parra were ejected along with Perdomo and Padres catcher A.J. Ellis.
Braves 5, Nationals 3
WASHINGTON — Peter Bourjos drove in two runs with a bases-loaded single in the 12th inning off Ryan Madson (0-1).
Brewers 3, Cardinals 2
ST. LOUIS — Matt Albers got his first save for Milwaukee, retiring Kolten Wong and Dexter Fowler to strand a pair of runners.
Diamondbacks 7, Giants 3
SAN FRANCISCO — Paul Goldschmidt and John Ryan Murphy hit home runs and Arizona won its fourth straight series to start a season for the first time since beginning play in 1998.
Phillies 4, Reds 3
PHILADELPHIA — Scott Kingery hit a game-ending sacrifice fly in the 12th off Austin Brice (0-1), two innings after center fielder Odubel Herrera robbed Scooter Gennett of a two-run homer. J.P. Crawford hit his first career homer, and Cesar Hernandez also connected for the Phillies, who dropped the Reds to 2-9.
Cubs 13, Pirates 5
CHICAGO — Javier Baez homered twice for the second straight day and scored the go-ahead run in the sixth after striking out and reaching on a wild pitch by Tyler Glasnow (0-1).
INTERLEAGUE
Athletics 16, Dodgers 6
LOS ANGELES — Khris Davis, Matt Chapman and Jed Lowrie each went deep, and the Athletics pounded out 21 hits in a win over the Dodgers.
The A’s sent nine batters to the plate in the fourth inning and scored five runs to lead 7-1. Marcus Semien had a two-run double during the rally, and Chapman and starting pitcher Daniel Mengden (1-2) each had an RBI single.
