Yankee-Tampa Bay plunkfest shows no signs of stopping

ST. PETERSBURG — There is no clean slate or turning the page. When Jordan Montgomery hit Austin Meadows twice on Sunday, the Rays not only reacted to that, but also to what they felt was the Yankees getting off light last year for hitting their batters.

“Look it’s unfortunate. Do I personally think the guy was trying to hit him? I do not. But this continues to roll over,” Rays manager Kevin Cash said after the Yankees’ 8-4, 10-inning victory over the Bombers at Tropicana Field. “It’s been so grossly mishandled by Major League Baseball last year.

“I’ve got a buddy that told me that there’s no recourse, there’s never any recourse. And I kind of took that and I understand that, that there isn’t any recourse. Because it’s just carryover and intent or not, most major-league players are going to look at you and say, it doesn’t feel good,” Cash continued. “Don’t care whether he did it on purpose or not, I don’t like it. And then you add the other element of coming up around the shoulder and the head area, where like none of us like that. So I’ll leave it at that.”

The heated rivalry added more fuel with Montgomery hitting Meadows, who had homered on Saturday, high up on his shoulder in the first inning. Both dugouts were warned, but when Montgomery hit Meadows again in the fifth inning, there were no ejections.

That was the fourth time a Ray was hit by a pitch in this series. Gary Sanchez was grazed by a pitch in the seventh.

“I mean it was obvious I wasn’t trying to hit him,” Montgomery said.

It was not so obvious to the Rays.

“Honestly, it’s tough to say. It’s one of those things where, going by some reactions, it may not have looked that way,” Rays catcher Mike Zunino said. “But it was three games, it was three different guys, obviously Meadows twice today. Just one of those where, if it is coincidence, it’s crazy to happen three days in a row.”

The back-and-forth between the teams reached a crescendo last September when Aroldis Chapman’s 101-mile an hour fastball came dangerously close to Mike Brosseau’s head. Chapman had his suspension reduced from three games to two and did not serve it until the beginning of this season, which infuriated the Rays. They were also upset that Masahiro Tanaka, who had hit Joey Wendle with his hardest pitch of the night on Sept. 1, 2020, did not receive any punishment.

“I know Tanaka is over in Japan, but he got off scot-free,” Cash said. “He hit Joey definitely (intentionally), and nothing we can do about that.”

Since this began back in 2018, with CC Sabathia retaliating by hitting Jesus Sucre after Andrew Kittredge threw at Austin Romine, Yankees pitchers have hit 23 Rays batters. The Bombers have had 15 hit-by-pitches against the Rays. The Yankees have not hit batters from any other team more in that span, while the Rays have hit the Red Sox and Blue Jays hitters more.

SECOND OPINION FOR SCHMIDT

After being “close” to getting back to his throwing program for the last month, Yankees top pitching prospect Clarke Schmidt will have a second opinion. Schmidt strained the common extensor tendon in his right elbow during his first bullpen session of spring training.

VOIT BACK TO DOC

Luke Voit, who had surgery to repair a partially torn meniscus in his left knee, will see the doctor today to gauge his rehab progress.

SEVERINO WORKING

Luis Severino, who is rehabbing from March 2020 Tommy John surgery, is continuing his throwing program with bullpen sessions, Boone said.

Severino

June or July. is expected back in

GERMAN VICTIM OF SHORT STARTS

Domingo German was optioned after taking the loss in Saturday’s 4-0 loss to the Rays. While the right-hander gave up two home runs, Boone said they believe he is close to finding his footing this season. He just became a victim of the back-to-back short outing by the starters and the Yankees needing to refresh the bullpen.

“There’s always circumstances, change and things evolve every day but I would expect him to, when his time’s up, that 10 days, probably be inserted back into the middle of the rotation,” Boone said.