Detroit Tigers slugger Miguel Cabrera punched New York Yankees catcher Austin Romine, sparking a brawl during Thursday's game.
The fracas was the first of three that led to the ejections of five players, managers Joe Girardi and Brad Ausmus, and Yankees bench coach Rob Thomson, CBS News reported.
After Yankees reliever Tommy Kahnle threw a pitch behind Cabrera, discussion between Cabrera and Romine turned physical with Cabrera shoving the Yankees relief catcher and throwing a swing. The two tumbled to the ground and both benches cleared during the sixth inning. Cabrera and Romine were ejected from the game.
Yankees manager Girardi and Kahnle were ejected before the brawl, ESPN reported. Thomson and Yankees reliever Dellin Betances were ejected in the seventh inning. Tigers manager Ausmus and reliever Alex Wilson were ejected in the eighth inning.
Girardi complained of a "very poor job" on the part of umpires and an obscenity yelled by Ausmus at Brett Gardner in the eighth inning, ESPN reported.
Yankees catcher Gary Sanchez also could face suspension for his role in the fights.
"At that moment, instinct takes over," Sanchez told ESPN. "That's your family out there."
Tensions rose in the fifth inning when Tigers pitcher Michael Fulmer hit Gary Sanchez in the thigh with his first pitch, The New York Times noted.
"I mean, pay attention," Girardi said, criticizing umpire Carlos Torres and the crew chief Dana DeMuth, according to the Times. "Somebody’s got to pay attention to what’s going on in this game."
The Tigers won the game 10-6.
Twitter users commented on the mayhem.
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