It’s not too often that a team can win on a ninth-inning rally and walk-off hit but manage to have the moment ruined by fans. Yet, that was exactly what happened in Saturday’s 5-4 Yankees win over the Cleveland Guardians at Yankee Stadium.
It had Guardians center fielder Myles Straw blasting *all* Yankees fans after the game.
The incident unfolded in the ninth inning after Guardians rookie Steven Kwan took a hard collision into the left-field wall trying to make a catch. Kwan was a bit shaken up but remained in the game. And as he was getting attended to, Guardians outfielders Straw and Oscar Mercado took exception to Yankees fans taunting Kwan for getting hurt. Straw climbed up on the wall to confront a fan who was flashing a lewd gesture.
MYLES STRAW FOREVER pic.twitter.com/xVwutqgWcv
— Fuzzy (@fuzzyfromyt) April 23, 2022
The game wasn’t even over at this point — the Yankees had just tied it up. So, when everyone returned to their positions, the hope was that the situation had cooled down. That would change four pitches later.
Gleyber Torres hit a pinch-hit, walk-off single to right field. And as the Guardians outfielders were preparing to jog off the field, someone threw a can at Mercado. Then, dozens of Yankee fans in the right-field stands — a totally different section from the first incident — proceeded to throw cans and bottles at the Guardians outfielders.
This is disgusting. Yankees fans should be embarrassed. Wow.
Yankees walk it off then proceed to throw things at Guardians outfielders
— Ben Verlander (@BenVerlander) April 23, 2022
After the game, Straw was understandably upset with Yankees fans. It was an inexcusable, classless display. Straw did manage to get a shot in at those fans. He said via The Athletic:
“I was just hot at that point,” Straw said, “just basically telling them, ‘Be quiet. Shut up. There’s no business, what you’re saying to this guy right now.’”
Initially, Straw declined to speak with reporters after the game. As he walked across the visiting clubhouse toward the shower, however, he said he would “let Yankees fans talk for him,” adding that the fans were “classless” and deeming them the “worst fan base on the planet.”
Come Sunday, Straw was back in the lineup and leading off for the Guardians. Yankees fans appeared to take notice to his remarks too because they let him hear it throughout the at-bat, which ended in a strikeout.
Gerrit Cole strikes out Myles Straw pic.twitter.com/lG7oT2JHic
— Captain Rougie (@CaptainRougie) April 24, 2022
That probably won’t be the end of it either.
