BOSTON — Game 1 between the Red Sox and Yankees in the 2018 season was a slugfest. Game 2 looked momentarily like it could head that way for a different reason.
Starting at shortstop with Xander Bogaerts on the disabled list, Brock Holt didn’t appreciate Tyler Austin’s slide into second base in the third inning Wednesday night at Fenway Park. There were two runners on when Tyler Wade dropped a bunt fielded by Rafael Devers, who threw on to Holt covering at second base.
Austin, who had just singled to grow the Yankees lead to 5-1 with none out in the third, had his left foot above the ground and his spikes made contact with Holt’s leg. The two exchanged words and the bullpens quickly cleared, but the confrontation didn’t escalate.
The Red Sox appeared to attempt to challenge the play, but the play was not eligible for review. Instead, the umpires’ conference was considered a rules check, and it lasted one minute, 53 seconds.
The Red Sox and Orioles famously had bad blood last season because of a high-spike slide from Manny Machado that clipped Dustin Pedroia. The impact Austin made with Holt was not near the same severity, however. Holt was likely bothered as a matter of principle, because of the possibility he could have been hurt.