After losing 10 of their last 13 games, the New York Yankees got into a heated altercation involving Marcus Stroman and Gleyber Torres, sparking a six-run rally and a 16-5 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays.
On a steamy Friday night at Rogers Centre, tensions flared between New York Yankees teammates Marcus Stroman and Gleyber Torres, but the ensuing drama may have been the catalyst for a much-needed turnaround for the struggling ball club.
Prior to the game, the Yankees had endured a dismal stretch, losing 10 of their previous 13 contests. Frustration was mounting, and it boiled over in the bottom of the fifth inning. With the bases loaded and one out, Toronto's Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hit a ground ball to Torres at second base. Torres fielded the ball cleanly but threw wide to first, allowing a run to score and giving the Blue Jays a 2-1 lead.
Yankees' Marcus Stroman Spars with Gleyber Torres, Ignites Team Turnaround
Stroman, a former Blue Jay, visibly erupted, yelling at Torres to "throw the f---ing ball, bro!" The outburst was captured on camera and quickly went viral.
Team captain Aaron Judge intervened, approaching Stroman in the dugout to calm him down. Stroman appeared to listen to Judge's words, and whatever message was conveyed seemed to have an immediate impact.
Yankees' Marcus Stroman Spars with Gleyber Torres, Ignites Team Turnaround
In the top of the sixth inning, the Yankees responded with a vengeance, scoring six runs and chasing Toronto starter Kevin Gausman from the game. Torres capped off the rally with a two-run home run, and Stroman was the first out of the dugout to congratulate him.
After the game, Stroman admitted that his "raw emotions" had gotten the better of him but that he had quickly patched things up with Torres.
Yankees' Marcus Stroman Spars with Gleyber Torres, Ignites Team Turnaround
"The squad went crazy today. Love to see it," Stroman posted on social media after the game. "Raw emotion and passion are part of the game. When you care deeply…frustrations come into the light."
Torres, for his part, said that he was unfazed by Stroman's outburst.
"We're a family, and sometimes families argue," Torres said. "But at the end of the day, we always have each other's backs."
The Yankees went on to score seven more runs in the ninth inning, securing a 16-5 victory. It was their highest-scoring output of the season and their first win in four games against their AL East rivals.
While the season has been a roller coaster for the Yankees, the altercation between Stroman and Torres may have been the spark that ignited a turnaround. The team's camaraderie and competitiveness were on full display, and they will look to ride this momentum into their upcoming series against the Oakland Athletics.
