Yankees fight to 10-7 win over Red Sox

Tyler Austin rushed the mound after being hit by a pitch from Red Sox reliever Joe Kelly, triggering a benchclearing brawl in a ramped-up rivalry as the New York Yankees ended Boston’s ninegame winning streak with a 10-7 victory Wednesday night.

In a matchup between teams that have long tangled, Gary Sanchez hit two home runs in a game that twice saw the benches empty and a fight that resulted in a trio of ejections.

And no telling what might happen in the series finale tonight at Fenway Park. Previously, Yankees-Red Sox meetings have included Zim vs. Pedro, A-Rod vs. Varitek and Munson vs. Fisk scuffles.

This time, the benches cleared briefly in the third after Austin’s spikes clipped Brock Holt’s leg on a slide into second base. Holt took issue with the contact and they exchanged words before being separated.

Then with the Yankees leading 10-6 in the seventh, Kelly nearly hit Austin and then caught him on the side with a 2-1 pitch clocked at 98 mph. 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 escalated.

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.

Austin, Kelly and Yankees third base coach Phil Nevin were ejected.

Before the melee, the Yankees scored four runs off David Price (1-1) in the first inning before the lefty ace exited the game with a tingling sensation in his pitching hand. Price was shaking his hand during the inning.

It was the second benchclearing brawl of the day in the majors. Colorado star Nolan Arenado charged the mound after being a pitch from San Diego’s Luis Perdomo threw a pitch behind him.