A-Rod and Jason Varitek brawl, a breakdown

Jul 20, 2020 462.5K views 2:40
MLB 2020

What Happened

In a heated matchup between the New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox, the long-standing rivalry between the two teams escalates into a physical altercation on the field. In the bottom of the third inning, with the Yankees trailing by one run, designated hitter Alex Rodriguez (A-Rod) steps up to the plate against Red Sox pitcher Bronson Arroyo. As Arroyo delivers the pitch, tensions boil over and the two players begin exchanging words. A-Rod, the Yankees' star slugger, stares down Arroyo, prompting catcher Jason Varitek of the Red Sox to intervene. Varitek removes his mask and confronts A-Rod, the two players shoving each other before a full-scale brawl erupts. "'[Varitek] said we don't hit .250 hitters,' which is weird because [A-Rod] is one of the best hitters ever," narrates, as the scuffle unfolds. A-Rod fires back, saying, "'[Expletive] you, [expletive] you, [expletive] you, you [expletive],' then [A-Rod] says, 'Come on, bring it,'" Varitek responds, "'Okay, I'm not going to take off any of my equipment, but let's do it.'" The two players grapple, with Varitek grabbing A-Rod in a low-ball maneuver and lifting him up. A-Rod refuses to back down and the two continue to exchange shoves and gestures as their teammates rush in to separate them. Yankees starter Tanyon Sturtze enters the fray, grabbing Red Sox outfielder Gabe Kapler by the throat and pulling him off the pile. Designated hitter David Ortiz of the Red Sox then gets involved and the benches clear as the scuffle escalates. Kapler manages to land a punch on Sturtze, causing him to bleed from the ear. "Tanyon Sturtze, the starter for the game, comes rifling in, grabs Gabe Kapler by the throat and pulls him off the pile," narrates. "Now Ortiz is involved and they take Tanyon down. He's the starter for the game." The altercation continues, with players from both teams engaged in the melee. Yankees captain Derek Jeter and manager Joe Torre attempt to calm the situation, while Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein watches on, seemingly amused by the events unfolding. Ultimately, Varitek is ejected from the game, receiving a standing ovation from the Fenway Park crowd as he departs. A-Rod is also sent off, with Jeter and Yankees manager Donnie Mattingly attempting to usher him away. The game resumes, with the Yankees unable to overcome the deficit, losing to their longtime rivals.

Full Transcript

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