How intense is the rivalry between the Staten Island Yankees and the Brooklyn Cyclones? Here’s the latest piece of evidence.
The Yankees were leading 5–0 on Sept. 2 when Cyclones’ first-baseman Jason Jacobs came to the plate in the top of the sixth to face reliever Jason Kiley.
Kiley’s first pitch was behind Jacob’s head.
Kiley’s next pitch was also behind Jacob’s head.
After that, the deluge! Jacobs started towards the mound, Kiley started towards Jacobs, and both benches and both bullpens emptied.
Within seconds, more than 60 players and coaches were squaring off.
Cyclones manager Edgar Alfonzo ordered his team back to the dugout, and calm was soon restored without the services of officers from the 123rd Precinct across the street from the Yankees’ ballpark.
Kiley and Yankee manager Mike Gillespie were ejected — but that didn’t satisfy Jacobs.
“Obviously, I thought it was intentional [to throw at me],” he said.
Gillespie seemed eager to get back to playing baseball.
“The fire is out,” he said the day after the near brawl.
Perhaps it is, but just wait until the playoffs.
