The Yankees lost their series finale in Seattle 4-0 on Thursday, but both benches emptied after the final out thanks to some heat between DJ LeMahieu and Mariners closer Kendall Graveman.
New York had just three baserunners on the afternoon, the last coming when Graveman hit LeMahieu with a pitch that grazed the stomach area of his jersey. LeMahieu, usually a quieter player, appeared to jaw at Graveman as he ran to first, perhaps because the righty’s first pitch was up and in to Rougned Odor in the previous at-bat.
After the next batter, Aaron Judge, grounded into a game-ending double play, Graveman stared down LeMahieu as the Yankees left the field and Seattle celebrated. That appeared to instigate a little something, and both dugouts spilled out onto the field.
No hostilities were exchanged beyond that, but it was a bitter end to a series where the Yankees erupted for 17 runs in the first two games, but were held to just one hit and two hit batsmen in the finale.
Following the incident, Yankees manager Aaron Boone confirmed that it was Graveman’s staredown of LeMahieu after the final out that instigated the affair.
“Graveman was just kind of staring DJ down after he hit him, and then staring him down again as he was running across the field after the double play,” Boone said.
LeMahieu told the media that he "didn't want to get into it," only saying there is no history between he and Graveman, and it was "just baseball talk" about the inside pitches.
Follow Lou DiPietro on Twitter: @LouDiPietroWFAN
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