Mariners manager Scott Servais calls out Yankees for causing drama
The Yankees didn’t appreciate getting pitched inside, but Mariners manager Scott Servais was having none of it.
The drama from the finale of the Yankees-Mariners three-game series carried over into Friday when Seattle manager Scott Servais addressed the media.
With a 4-0 lead in the top of the ninth inning on Thursday, Mariners pitcher Kendall Graveman pitched up and in to Yankees infielder Rougned Odor before retiring him, and then brushed the jersey of Yankees infielder DJ LeMahieu with a 96-mph fastball. The normally reserved LeMahieu didn’t take too kindly to the inside pitch, and shared a NSFW remark towards Graveman on his way to first base.
Mariners manager Scott Servais addresses drama with Yankees
The Mariners went on to win that game and shared some stare downs and verbally exchanges with the Yankees just after the final out was recorded.
On Friday, Servais explained there was nothing intentional about the pitches the Yankees didn’t like.
Servais also said the Yankees anger at Kendall Graveman in the ninth inning of Thursday's game was "ridiculous."
— Ryan Divish (@RyanDivish) July 9, 2021
"We pitch inside. We aren't trying to hit anyone."
The response comes after LeMahieu explained he thought it was suspicious, and New York manager Aaron Boone said they took exception after Graveman stared down LeMahieu following the hit by pitch.
Whether it was or wasn’t intentional is up for speculation, but one thing is certain, both of these teams are heading in different directions which probably adds to the frustration from the Bronx Bombers.
The Mariners are among the youngest teams in baseball with an average age of 27.8 years, and they have the third-best farm system in the majors, including two of the Top-5 overall per MLB Pipeline. They likely won’t be in the playoff picture, but they’ve played well given their low expectations and currently have a 46-42 record this season. The future is bright in Seattle.
Meanwhile, the Yankees have World Series-or-bust aspirations and they sit nine games out of first place and 4.5 behind a Wild Card spot with a 44-42 record. If they continue to fall further down the standings in the upcoming weeks, it’s possible the Yankees will have a very different look to their roster without some of their big names next month.
These two ball clubs meet again on Aug. 8 for the start of a four-game series in New York.
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