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The Upper Deck

Welcome to The Upper Deck, Baseball America’s daily look at the biggest stories around the game and some lighter fare.

BASEBRAWL

Baseball fights don’t usually amount to much; maybe a bit of shoving and a lot of milling around. But on Thursday, the Yankees and Tigers came to blows and the benches cleared three times, resulting in the ejection of eight people, including both managers.

It all began in the fourth inning after Gary Sanchez hit yet another homer, his fourth in the three-game series. The next inning, Tigers starter Michael Fulmer hit Sanchez with a pitch. In the sixth inning, Yankees reliever Tommy Kahnle threw a pitch behind the back of Miguel Cabrera and was ejected without a warning. Yankees manager Joe Girardi argued the ejection and was himself ejected.

Aroldis Chapman then entered the game in relief of Kahnle and as Cabrera stepped back into the batter’s box, he began arguing with catcher Austin Romine and then shoved Romine, and the two men came to blows. Both Cabrera and Romine were ejected.

In the seventh, Yankees reliever Dellin Betances was ejected when he hit leadoff man James McCann in the head with a 98-mph fastball, as was Yankees coach Rob Thomson. The benches cleared again in the eighth after Tigers reliever Alex Wilson hit Todd Frazier with a pitch. Wilson was ejected, as was Tigers manager Brad Ausmus.

Suspensions are sure to follow.

MET MISHAP

It’s been a season gone awry for the Mets, who harbored high hopes of returning to the World Series, riding their strong rotation. But now it’s late August, they’ve lost Noah Syndergaard, Steven Matz, Matt Harvey and others to injury, traded off players and are languishing in the NL East.

Michael Conforto has been a bright spot but even he could not escape the Mets’ black cloud. On Thursday, Conforto swung and missed against Diamondbacks lefthander Robbie Ray and disclocated his left shoulder. Conforto’s season is likely over, as is the Mets’.

HOSKINS STAYS HOT

The Phillies haven’t had much to cheer about this season, either. But rookie Rhys Hoskins has been a bright spot. Hoskins, who was second to teammate Dylan Cozens in the minors in homers in 2016 with 38, has hit eight homers in his first 15 big league games, clubbing No. 8 Thursday. Hoskins also is one of just three players to hit eight homers in his first 50 career at-bats, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. He hit his eighth in his 49th at-bat. The Orioles’ Trey Mancini hit eight in 47 at-bats) and Carlos Delgado hit eight homers in 48 at-bats in 1993-94.

QUICK RETURN

On July 28, Robbie Ray of the Diamondbacks took a line drive to the head, leaving him concussed. Less than a month later, Ray was back on a mound against the Mets. He came back in fine fashion, striking out the side in the first inning.

“That’s about as good as a first inning could go,” Ray told reporters. Ray allowed just two hits and struck out nine in five innings in a 3-2 win.

PLAYERS WEEKEND

You’ll notice things will look a little different around MLB this weekend. Tim Newcomb wrote about the colorful bats Louisville Slugger will supply.

But the featured attraction will be the snazzy uniforms with players’ nicknames, such as “All Rise” for Aaron Judge. Mariners third baseman Kyle Seager, a star in his own right, nevertheless opted for “Corey’s Brother,” in deference to young brother Corey of the Dodgers. Mike Trout is “Kiiiiid,” while Manny Machado is going with ‘Mr. Miami,” for his South Beach upbringing. And there are countless others. It’ll be a fun weekend around the game.

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