Gary Sanchez has heated up since a short break, but he looks destined for a longer rest.
Sanchez appeared to throw multiple punches during the Yankees’ brawl Thursday with the Tigers in Detroit, and a suspension is likely forthcoming.
The fracas started after Tommy Kahnle threw behind Tigers star Miguel Cabrera in the bottom of the sixth inning. Kahnle and Yankees manager Joe Girardi were ejected.
Tigers pitcher Michael Fulmer had previously hit Sanchez in the game, after the young Yankees slugger had homered. Girardi was incensed that Kahnle was ejected without a warning.
In the aftermath, Cabrera and Yankees catcher Austin Romine exchanged words, and the brawl erupted. Romine and Cabrera both landed punches during their tussle, but Sanchez swooped in with a sucker punch while Cabrera was pinned to the ground.
He also later shook free from teammate Clint Frazier, who had pulled him away from the melee, and threw another punch, this time at Tigers infielder Nick Castellanos, who was also pinned on the ground.
Both blows look similar, but note the location of the player on the ground — it is definitely two separate incidents, and not just two different angles of the same sucker punch.
There is likely further discipline coming for several parties from this fight, but Major League Baseball is likely to be especially upset with both of Sanchez’s punches.
