Jose Bautista launched a game-tying two-run home run in the eighth inning of last night’s game at Yankee Stadium, but that wasn’t what had reliever Shawn Kelley steaming. Bautista apparently shouted expletives and slammed his bat on his way to first base as the ball made its way over the fence in left field.
Kelley explains, via Daniel Barbarisi of the Wall Street Journal:
Kelley on Bautista: “I’m not really sure what that was all about-to be honest, it was pretty disrespectful towards me, & the game itself”
— Daniel Barbarisi (@DanBarbarisi) September 19, 2014
More Kelley on Bautista: “To slam bats and shout profanities because you hit another home run just seems childish and disrespectful….”
— Daniel Barbarisi (@DanBarbarisi) September 19, 2014
Bautista insists his behavior wasn’t directed at Kelley or the Yankees. Per MLB.com’s Jamal Collier:
Bautista re Kelly: “It’s unfortunate that he thinks that any of my emotions following last night’s home run had anything to do with him…” — Jamal Collier (@JamalCollier) September 19, 2014
More Bautista on Kelley: “It didn’t. I was in a moment of a lot of passion because of the developments of the game…” — Jamal Collier (@JamalCollier) September 19, 2014
The Yankees ended up walking off in the bottom of the ninth inning thanks to an Adam Lind fielding error.
If there were still any hurt feelings, it wasn’t evident early tonight. Yankees starter Hiroki Kuroda pitched Bautista straight up, getting him to ground into a fielder’s choice in the first inning of tonight’s game.
Here’s video of Bautista’s game-tying homer from Thursday, though the alleged behavior isn’t shown:
The Yankees entered Friday night’s action a game ahead of the Blue Jays, but five games out of the second Wild Card with 10 games remaining.
