Written by Andrew Marchand at ESPN.com
Tigers star Miguel Cabrera and Yankees backup catcher Austin Romine fought at home plate, leading both dugouts to clear in a melee at Comerica Park during the sixth inning Thursday.
The fight was part of a crazy day of punches and hit batters exchanged between the sides.
Cabrera and Romine were ejected, but they were not alone. In separate incidents, Yankees manager Joe Girardi and reliever Tommy Kahnlewere ejected in the sixth inning, New York bench coach Rob Thomson and reliever Dellin Betances were ejected in the seventh, and Tigers manager Brad Ausmus and reliever Alex Wilson were ejected in the eighth.
In his postgame interview, Girardi criticized the umpires, led by crew chief Dana DeMuth.
“It was just a very poor job on their part. Very, very poor,” Girardi said after his team’s 10-6 loss.
Girardi also said he was mad at Ausmus, saying the Tigers manager yelled an obscenity at Brett Gardner in the eighth inning, when the benches cleared for the third and final time.
“Then Brad Ausmus is going to say, ‘F-U,’ to one of my players,” Girardi said. “I mean, come on, Brad. What is that?”
A series of events led to Cabrera and Romine jawing in the sixth. Cabrera made the first move by pushing Romine in the chest and taking a swing. Although both benches cleared and there was a lot of wrestling, the initial indication was that no one was seriously injured.
Besides Cabrera and possibly Romine, Yankees hot-hitting All-Star Gary Sanchez could be in line for a suspension after taking several shots at Tigers players during the fight.
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