Orioles Beat Yankees as Managers Quarrel
As the American League playoff races continue to heat up, we certainly expect rivalries to intensify and for players to get a bit chippy in significant battles down the stretch. However, in Monday’s game between the Baltimore Orioles and New York Yankees, the managers were the ones going at each other in what nearly turned into a first-inning scuffle.
Although the Orioles prevailed 4-2 in a meaningful late-season game between two playoff hopefuls, much of the talk afterwards surrounded the bizarre confrontation between Joe Girardi and Buck Showalter early in the ballgame. It all started when Girardi accused Baltimore’s third base coach of stealing signs, which angered Showalter. Showalter then charged onto the field, causing both benches to clear as the managers exchanged words.
Girardi wouldn’t go into detail about what was said, but iterated that he was simply looking out for his players.
“The one thing that I’ve done, the whole time that I’m here, and everywhere I’ve been, is I’m going to protect our players at all lengths,” Girardi said, according to ESPN.com. “That’s what I’m going to do, and there was something that I saw and I’m just going to leave it at that.”
Showalter also avoided discussing the incident and instead wanted to focus on the win and starter Chris Tillman’s brilliant seven-inning, nine-strikeout performance.
“Guys, we had a great pitched game tonight,” Showalter told reporters. “I understand you’ve got to ask the questions and everything. I’d rather have the focus be on Chris Tillman, some of the things we did on the field. … I know how drama usually plays this time of the year. I’m just glad we’re playing games that mean this much to everybody, including our fans.”
While the game will likely be remembered for its managers coming close to blows, it marks an huge step in the right direction for the Orioles, who are now just one and a half games back of Tampa Bay for the second wild card spot. Meanwhile, New York has slipped to three games back of the Rays with less than 20 games to play.
Even worse news for Yankees fans is that the team’s captain, Derek Jeter, will likely miss the rest of the season after reinjuring his ankle. For now, he has been ruled out of the lineup indefinitely.
New York will have to soldier on without him today, as it continues its current four-game set with the O’s. However, the Yankees will still have a decent shot at bouncing back – at least today – with Ivan Nova on the mound against Miguel Gonzalez. Look for New York to cover +1.5 as it seeks sweet revenge against its AL East rival.
