NEW YORK (AP) - Cleveland starter Mitch Talbot has been ejected from the game against the New York Yankees after he hit Alex Rodriguez in the backside with a pitch.
Plate umpire Dan Iassogna immediately tossed Talbot after the righty hit Rodriguez with a fastball in the bottom of the sixth inning. The night before, the Indians and Yankees cleared the benches when Mark Teixeira was hit by a pitch and took exception to it.
Rodriguez hit a solo home run off Talbot in the fourth inning Saturday. Curtis Granderson went deep one batter before Talbot hit A-Rod.
While Rodriguez writhed on the ground, Talbot argued with Iassogna, and Cleveland manager Manny Acta came out, too. Talbot gestured to the mound, possibly suggesting that he slipped in the wet, misty conditions.
THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP’s earlier story is below.
NEW YORK (AP) _ Cleveland Indians pitcher Fausto Carmona says he didn’t mean to hit Yankees slugger Mark Teixeira with a pitch.
Carmona said he was trying to regain control by pitching inside when his first pitch after giving up a home run drilled the Yankees’ slugger in the shoulder Friday night.
Teixeira, also plunked during the last series in which New York was swept in three games by Boston, took exception to Carmona’s pitch and the benches cleared.
Before Saturday afternoon’s game, Carmona said through bullpen catcher Francisco Morales that he meant to come up and in to Teixeira because he usually pitches the switch-hitter low and away.
Carmona threw 14 of his first 18 pitches for balls and walked three in a three-run first inning before giving up Granderson’s homer.
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