Thursday’s game between the New York Yankees and Cincinnati Reds began with an unusual contest, with the pitchers from both teams going at it out of spite as the national anthem was played.
Prior to the game, at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, Reds pitchers Graham Ashcraft and Carson Spires stepped to the third base line and stood at attention, while Yankees pitchers Ian Hamilton and Cody Poteet stood at attention on the first base line as the national anthem was played.
But the confrontation continued after the anthem: the pitchers stood their ground, in fact, refusing to be the first to leave the field when the umpire ordered them to return to their respective dugouts.
The Yankees took the field as the pitching stalemate continued, and third base umpire Jim Wolf I left To discuss with patriotic players, New York Post.
The four finally left the field after the umpire spoke to them.
The national anthem will be performed between the Reds and Yankees at Yankee Stadium on Independence Day. pic.twitter.com/6J4W1xivjW
— Dan Zaksheske (@RealDanZak) July 4, 2024
Cincinnati’s Ashcroft after the game Claimed“That wasn’t even planned.”
“We all glanced over and we saw they weren’t moving. One of the guys told Carson to stay. I said, ‘I’m not moving, I’m staying with you. I’ve got nothing to do today.’ I’m staying until we win or we’re out or both,” he added.
“We didn’t really think about it,” Poteat explained, “because we had the color guard, it wasn’t a normal national anthem, so we just stood there a little extra time. We noticed they were still standing, so we just wanted to see who could outlast each other. We kept at it until the very end, near the start of the game. It was just a little fun.”
“I think it’s something that happens naturally,” Poteat added. “It’s a little bit of a competition within the game. This is probably the first time I’ve been a part of it.”
In the end, the Reds’ Spires returned to the dugout first, followed by Hamilton and Poteet, before Ashcroft left the dugout pumping his fist.
The Yankees and Reds had an epic national anthem showdown on the Fourth of July.
This is exactly what the Founding Fathers envisioned. pic.twitter.com/5QAQ8ZH56G
— BitBaseball (@bitbaseball_) July 4, 2024
The Reds ultimately won, 8-4.
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