Aaron Judge uses Brett Gardner's bat-slamming antics as Yankees odd new rallying motion

By Tony Mangia

The Yankees aren't happy with the target MLB umpires have put on Brett Gardner and his recent bat-slamming actions in the dugout but, Aaron Judge may have introduced a new, kinder and albeit less savage, team rallying motion derived from the antics of their fiery left-fielder.

There was a lot of talking about team unity — after Gardner was tossed from Saturday's game against the Cleveland Indians for banging his bat on the dugout ceiling in response to manager Aaron Boone being thrown out for jawing to the home plate ump — before Judge mimicked Gardner's double-handed rant at first base following his third-inning single and again from second base after a Judge double.

"no no it aint a shot at you guys" pic.twitter.com/Zw1O83Nncs

— Jomboy (@Jomboy_) August 18, 2019

I'm sure a lot of twisted baseball fans — and probably some indignant and inefficient umpires — will see an indecent double-entendre in the two-handed motion, but — to the easily offended — the gesture might be less naughty than Gardner's in-and-out motion with a bat in a dugout cubbyhole during that same rant. And, if you believe Judge, the jerky up-and-down bat action just might become the Yankees version of the Rally Cap.

Maybe they can call it Gard's Up! or Wood's Up! They are Savages, after all.

"Yeah, he's one of the leaders of this team," said Judge. "We do a lot of crazy things in that dugout when we get on base. Just showing support for him. He's the leader of this team so we're just supporting him."

Gardner had been one of three Yankees kicked out of the game — CC Sabathia was the third — by first base ump Phil Cuzzi on Saturday, so before the game on Sunday, Boone warned his players that the umpires might be watching the dugout for more abuse of his lumber by Gardie and another excuse to toss him from the game.

When the Yankee Stadium Bleacher Creatures did their ritual role call at the start of Sunday's game, Gardner pretended to slam a bat on the dugout ceiling in return. Judge must have been watching and took it as a sign.

Gardy can't stop.

Gardy won't stop. pic.twitter.com/uNEj6bewqr

— Cut4 (@Cut4) August 17, 2019lll

Cuzzi worked home plate during Sunday's loss without incident although the Yankees could be seen shaking their heads at more than a few lousy pitching calls. But, with Gardner's bats on a leash, it didn't come to this... not in the dugout at least.

Here is the full sequence of the Boone ejection. Hot mics galore. pic.twitter.com/R6Vw0qw0qn

— Jomboy (@Jomboy_) July 18, 2019 

Yankees' Brett Gardner and Brian Cashman both victims of mistaken identity

By Tony Mangia

In two separate incidents Friday, a couple members of the New York Yankees family were both involved in dramatic incidents of mistaken identities by respective authorities hundreds of miles apart, but later absolved of any wrong doing after the infield dirt and exhaust fumes had settled.

Before rightfielder Brett Gardner got tossed out of a game against the Blue Jays up in Canada last night, general manager Brian Cashman was tossed by a swarm of anti-car theft police in Connecticut earlier in the evening — with guns drawn.

Gardner's bust and outburst in Toronto might have been witnessed by fans at the game and watching on the YES Network,  but it was the Yankees general manager's dramatic experience which might have been a little more TV show worthy after he was swarmed by “as many five patrol cars" and "between six and nine police officers” with “guns drawn” in Darien after being mistaken for an "armed car thief,” according to a report from the New York Post.

The only guns showing in the Gardner case were his biceps as he was restrained from going after umpire Chris Segal by Yankees manager Aaron Boone.

Cashman's ordeal began while was driving the vehicle from Yankee Stadium to the Norwalk, Connecticut Police Department on Friday afternoon to have it processed for evidence after he reported it stolen in the Bronx. When he stopped for gas in Darien, he was greeted with a swarm of police officers responding to someone in a white Jeep “that was brandishing a gun in a local doctor’s office.”

Combined with the fact that the NYPD never took the jeep off the "hot car" list, Cashman was told not to "make any rash moves" as he exited his vehicle. Talk about a trading deadline being over, this was one rash decision that even a MLB GM knew not to make.

“And that’s when apparently the circumstances radically changed,” said Cashman. “I had a welcoming committee descend upon me as I pulled out of that gas station … They executed a very tactful interception. They’re clearly very professional and trained and they asked me to turn my car off, exit the vehicle, walk backwards towards them … they were executing their duty.”

After a 15 minute process, Cashman was escorted to the Norwalk Police Department by Darien police in order to avoid a similar situation unfolding down the road. He was assured his vehicle was off the stolen car list.

Gradner's incident with The Man resulted from other player's barking in the Yankees’ dugout over a pair of questionable called strikes by Segal in the fourth inning, the first a strike-three call on Cameron Maybin and the second the very next pitch to Mike Tauchman.

After the Tauchman call, Maybin, seated in the dugout, yelled, “F—ing terrible, let’s go!”

Segal immediately responded: “Time, out, done!” and signaled someone was out of the game. When Boone inquired who had been tossed, Segal replied: “Gardner. He just told me I’m f—ing terrible.”

The obvious misidentification caused a stunned Gardner to emerge from the dugout before he blew up and had to be held back by Boone. Then it was time for Gardner's signature bat-bashing in the dugout.

“I told him I didn’t say anything,” Gardner said. “He told me I did say something. That’s why I got pretty irritated.” Gardner also called Segal “a liar.”

Later, a still agitated Gardner wasn't as diplomatic or forgiving as Cashman for the mishap. Asked if wanted an apology from Segal, Gardie plainly said, "Not interested."

So Mike Tauchman takes a strike...and Brett Gardner gets ejected?

That's what happened, and if this game can get any crazier, you can watch it here: https://t.co/i6xvpsa0pF pic.twitter.com/V5VQ2SHOuj

— YES Network (@YESNetwork) August 10, 2019

Aaron Judge chips tooth during Yankees' walk-off celebration

Brett Gardner did it all during the Yankees’ 6-5, extra-inning win over the Rays on Thursday night... including a little inci-dental work on the side.

After tripling in the ninth and scoring the tying run to keep the Yankees alive before ending the game in the 11th with a walk-off line drive homer into the right-field seats, Gardy might have also chipped the tooth of Aaron Judge during the celebration at home plate.

Gardner was mobbed by his teammates as he crossed the plate and Judge could be seen being hit by a helmet and reaching for his mouth before jogging off the field alone while the rest of the team still celebrated.

Judge looked a little upset and annoyed as he sought medical attention.

BE CAREFUL @TheJudge44! pic.twitter.com/ofS3EpMO1p

— Jimmy Traina (@JimmyTraina) July 28, 2017

No one, it seemed, was willing to take responsibility for the bopping helmet which ended up smashing Judge in the chin but, with mostly everyone at least six inches shorter than the big guy, it's no wonder it happened.

“It wasn’t my fault,” Gardner said following the victory. “I threw [the helmet] on the ground.

“He’s too big to get hurt by something like that,” the outfielder said. “I think he’ll be all right.”

After the game ended, team personnel could be seen on the field, presumably in search of the tooth fragment.

“We don’t know who hit him,” Clint Frazier said of the already gap-toothed Judge. “We’re trying to find somebody. But the tooth broke in half.”

Judge has managed to smile through a mini-slump since the All-Star game, but here's to hoping this accident doesn't change that attitude.

Yankees beat Cubs on Brett Gardner's come-from-behind ninth inning home run

The Cubs were cruising along in the ninth inning towards a 2-0 win in the Friday afternoon opener of their big inter-league series with the Yankees when Brett Gardner silenced the optimistic Wrigley Field crowd with one mighty swing.

Looking like it was a sure win, Chicago closer Hector Rondon then got Didi Gregorius to ground out to start the top of the inning. Chase Headley then singled, and a wild pitch would send him to second. After a strikeout, Jacoby Ellsbury walked to put the tying run on. That’s when Gardy came up and jacked a 2-out, 2-strike pitch out of the park to give the Yankees a 3-2 lead.

This is exactly why Joe Girardi loves the man. He's a GAMER, a COMPETITOR. Brett Gardner, 3-2 #Yankees at Wrigley. pic.twitter.com/V1Zq1KYJOY

— Elite Sports NY (@EliteSportsNY) May 5, 2017

Gardner left no doubt he put the Yankees ahead as the game hero hollered and fist pumped his way around the bases. It was Gardner's fifth home run of the season — all in his last six games! 

Funny, because before today, we last saw Gardner Wednesday night, as he was taking batting practice in the Yankees dugout up in Toronto.

Yankees fans are taking a liking to Gardy's new found power... no matter where he does it.

Brett Gardner makes unbelievable catch to rob C.J.Cron of home run (VIDEO)

All the talk surrounding the Yankees lately is about the team's new young guns but, it was a Bombers veteran who showed the young 'uns that some of the oldsters weren't ready to be set out to pasture just yet.

Brett Gardner made one of the the top catches of the season — maybe the best —  after leaping over the wall to steal a home run from C.J. Cron in the Yankees' 5-1 victory against the Angels Saturday night at Angel Stadium.

#Yankees fans everywhere = 😱😱😱

Take a bow, Gardy. https://t.co/QmVEm6ji42

— New York Yankees (@Yankees) August 21, 2016

Somehow, Gardner kept his balance and — with his stiff body straddling the fence — might have become the first Yankee to do some planking on the stadium's left field wall.

Cron — just like everyone else — couldn't believe Gardner's grab and put his hands on his head in disbelief.

Even pitcher Tyler Clippard, who threw the  pitch, applauded Gardy's feat.

Brett Gardner's unbelievable catch. #Yankees pic.twitter.com/ZI8p5fqCo6

— Aaron (@dblea88) August 21, 2016

What youth movement?

Jacoby Ellsbury's straight steal of home leads Yankees to win

Jacoby Ellsbury wasn't supposed to start the game Friday night against the Rays and, to many Yankees fans, if the slumping $153 million man never sauntered to centerfield ever again it might be too soon.

But on a rainy night in the Bronx when he began the game on the bench with the Yankees facing another lefty starter, Ellsbury showed what the Bombers paid him for in a 6-3 win over the Rays.

After replacing Aaron Hicks, who injured himself diving for a ball in the fourth inning in center, Ellsbury didn’t take long to make his presence felt — thanks to a straight steal of home in the bottom of the fifth that tied the game.

“I knew if I took off, I’d make it,” said Ellsbury, who shocked nearly everyone by going despite a 3-2 count and two outs.

Brett Gardner took the pitch and Ellsbury slid under the tag.

“It was a surprise, but it worked out for the best,” said Gardner, who took the pitch and didn’t have to risk an Ellsbury injury  by swinging. “Thank goodness the ball wasn’t close to the zone.”

And the last time Ellsbury pulled off what is probably the most exciting play in baseball?  2009 against Andy Pettitte of the Yankees:

Brett Gardner takes on role of unofficial Yankees captain after loss: Report

It was a simple message scribbled in black on the white board near the door that led out of the Yankees’ clubhouse as they departed Rogers Centre Sunday.

But after the Yankees' 3-1 loss to the Blue Jays in Toronto, Brett Gardner's written words spoke volumes:

"Cheer up everybody. We won the series. Still in 1st place."

Sunday's loss to the hard-charging Jays was likely a tough one for the Yankees to swallow — considering they had the chance to get revenge on Toronto for sweeping them the week before and because their bats couldn't help Luis Severino, the rookie phenom who gave them another strong start.

But Gardner's leadership move was clear. By taking two out of three games from the Blue Jays and jumping back into the American League East lead, there was good reason to take pride.

Anybody on the Yankees who knew Gardner wrote it surely wouldn't have been surprised that it came from the 31-year-old veteran.

Gardner's influence within the clubhouse is noticeable. The scrappy All-Star learned a lot from the Derek Jeter school of captaincy:  Lead by example. Exude quiet confidence. Make a statement when necessary.

On Sunday, Gardner did just that.

Mark Teixeira goes off on Yankee fan who interfered on play (VIDEO)

It's beginning to look like the New York Yankees are taking a beating and it's not only the Toronto Blue Jays inflicting the pain, it's the Bombers own fans.

In the top of the ninth of Sunday's game against the hard-charging Jays, Mark Teixeira reached into the stands near the Yankees dugout to try to catch a popup by Chris Colabello and after he couldn’t come up with it, a fan ran over him in an attempt to get the ball — almost twisting the first baseman's arm off in the process.

Mark Teixeira almost has hissy fit when fan tries to get the ball...gives him a shot! #yankees#bluejays#Teixeira pic.twitter.com/tAGQSGNhZQ

— Nicholas Prins (@nohouzecalls) August 9, 2015

But not before Brett Gardner was drilled in the back of the head in left field when a teenage fan threw Jose Bautista’s home run ball back on the field in the fourth.

This fan threw back a Blue Jays’ home run ball… and hit Brett Gardner with it (via @BlueJaysPlus): https://t.co/GwFUYvf3w6

— SB Nation (@SBNation) August 9, 2015

Neither player was injured by the fans’ recklessness, but both Yankees were peeved.

Teixeira, who snapped at the fan following the run-in, summed up the frustrating day, “You can insult. You can’t assault. We know you are upset we lost three in a row. Keep it to insults.” 

The fan who climbed over Teixeira’s shoulder clearly didn’t do it intentionally and the one who tossed the ball back on the field- something that has become a tradition when a visiting player hits a home run- was not tossed from the game, according to a Stadium employee.

The Yankees are hurting in more ways than one.

Yankees fan throws back home run ball, hits Brett Gardner in head (VIDEO)

During Sunday's game at Yankee Stadium, one of baseball's home crowd traditions took a turn for the worse after Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Jose Bautista belted a home run during the fourth inning of the contest and a Yankees fan did his part by throwing it back onto the field.

Unfortunately, for Brett Gardner, the rejected ball ends up hitting the Yankees outfielder in the head as it's thrown back on the field.

Here's a view of the errant throw from the stands:

#BrettGardner hit in the head by baseball that someone threw back #Yankees @Yankees @espn @SportsCenter @BlueJays pic.twitter.com/toDY0oZNii

— Trevor Solan (@TrevorSolan) August 9, 2015

Gardner told the Associated Press that he was glad he wasn't hurt by the throw.

"I just wore it. Didn't even turn around," he said. "It wasn't like it was coming from the second row. It was a long ways away."

And said he had a little bump on his shaved noggin.

"I've got a hard head, so it's all good," he joked. "It's over with. Glad I didn't get hurt."

The 15-year-old fan responsible for the throw got a warning from security, but was not ejected from the game. It's doubtful he was aiming for Gardner, and the whole thing was just an unfortunate incident.

Next time just give the ball to some kid.

After trailing 5-0, Yankees score 21 unanswered runs to beat Rangers

Chris Capuano was awful Tuesday night. The Yankees starter issuied five walks in the first inning that resulted in the Texas Rangers scoring five quick runs, but thanks to a slew of even more awful Texas Rangers pitchers, it didn’t matter.

And Capuano's fail only set up what was to be an astonishing 21-5 Yankees win at Globe Life Park. A weird game that included an 11-run inning, position players pitching and a Triple-A call-up throwing 5 1/3 hitless and scoreless innings for his first big league win.

The Yankees' bats weren't the only things that were hot during the bizarre game. The lop-sided victory was witnessed by a crowd of 28,403 that withered like the Rangers — thanks to a game-time temperature of 98 degrees.

“I don’t know if I have ever been part of that,’’ manager Joe Girardi said after his barnstorming club won for the 13th time in 16 games and remained seven games ahead of the second-place Orioles in the AL East. “Give up five in the first, don’t give up a hit and score 21 runs.’’

From 11-run innings to infielders pitching, the @Yankees and @Rangers played one of 2015’s weirdest games: http://t.co/bbMNakz2Q8

— Cut4 (@Cut4) July 29, 2015

And while Yankees hitters were having their way, pitcher Diego Moreno was just a hair less than perfect after the hole his team dug. Moreno — a Yankees pitcher promoted from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre earlier Tuesday and part of the 2012 A.J. Burnett deal with the Pirates — worked 5 ¹/₃ hitless and scoreless innings for his first big league win in three games.

“I am happy about the opportunity and to be part of the win,’’ said Moreno, who walked Shin-Soo Choo with two outs in the third. It was the only base runner the Rangers had after the first inning.

The 11 runs in the second inning were the most by the Yankees in an inning since July 30, 2011 against Baltimore. The 21 runs are the most by the Yankees since a 22-9 win over the Athletics on Aug. 25, 2011.

Chris Young led the season-high 19-hit attack with a third-inning grand slam and an RBI double in the sixth. Brett Gardner added a two-run homer in the ninth off infielder Adam Rosales, who was on the mound, and Didi Gregorius contributed a career-high four hits and had a three-run triple in the second.

The only Yankees starter to not get a hit was Mark Teixeira who went 0-for-3.

Could Brett Gardner's white spikes get him fined?

When Brett Gardner raced back to make a nice leaping grab off the bat of Austin Jackson in the top of the third inning Sunday at Yankee Stadium, it seems the only thing everyone noticed was his shoes.

The All-Star looked pretty spiffy in his pair of all-white New Balance cleats and here they are:

Brett Gardner made a nice leaping catch. But who cares when he’s wearing these fresh cleats: http://t.co/YD9rRvmKpe pic.twitter.com/2RXqXcXu7D

— Cut4 (@Cut4) July 19, 2015

But Gardner's fashion choice could lead to a possible warning or fine.

According to MLB rules, uniforms have to comply with certain rules regarding color, and because Gardner was the only Yankee wearing completely white spikes, he could be disciplined.

“Just a one-time thing, man,” Gardner said Sunday night at a Carlos Beltran charity event. “Just today. Won’t happen again. Some guys wanted me to wear them. CC [Sabathia] was pitching today, and he was excited about them. So I said, ‘Why not?’

A few years ago, umpire Joe West told CC Sabathia to remove his gray spikes at Fenway Park because they didn’t conform to other shoes worn by Yankees players.

Gardner, who wore the shoes the whole game, didn’t get a hit in Sunday’s 2-1 victory over the Mariners, but he used them to walk twice and score the tying run in the sixth.

“It was a big win today, nothing to do with the cleats, and that’s it,” said the stylin' Gardy.

And everyone thinks it's duh shoes.

Who gets Derek Jeter's locker remains a question with Yankees

A lot of questions face the New York Yankees as they head into the final week of spring training but one lingering quandary stands now out: Who's getting Derek Jeter's locker?

It's decision that will have to be made sometime within the next few days, before the team's Opening Day game against the Blue Jays at Yankee Stadium April 6, clubhouse manger Lou Cucuzza Jr. said.

The locker is significant because it was the space the recently retired Jeter occupied since the stadium opened in 2009. It's also prime real estate, positioned in the back of the clubhouse, near the entrance to the players' only section.

And unless Jeets heads to that stadium in the sky, it remains an available cubicle.

Cucuzza said he approached home-grown Yankees left fielder Brett Gardner more than a week ago about possibly taking over the spot, but Gardner hadn't made a decision yet.

Alex Rodriguez joined the Yankees in 2004, but he was suspended for all of 2014 for using performance-enhancing drugs. That interruption makes Gardner the longest consecutively tenured Yankee. 

Yeah ... and it's A-Rod.

Gardner made his big league debut in pinstripes in 2008.

"We'll figure out it out," Cucuzza said. "We've still got time."

Didi Gregarious, who will replace The Captain at shortstop this season, is too much a newcomer. And trying to fill Jeter's shoes on the field and then drop your sweat socks in the Yankee icon's locker might just be a little too much to handle.

Jeter, Gardner thrown out during embarassing 2-6-3-4-5-3 double play (VIDEO)

The Little League World Series ended last week but, after this play at Yankee Stadium Wednesday night, Derek Jeter and Brett Gardner might want to get a few base-running pointers from the 12 and 13 year-olds.

The two veteran players fell victim to an unbelievable base-running gaffe which ended up being scored an unlikely 2-6-3-4-5-3 double play against the Red Sox — even without the ball making contact.

The embarassing brain freezes began while Gardner was on first and breaks for second. On the throw down, Jeter begins to stray from third base. The Captain loiters too long and too far and is thrown out by Jemile Weeks. 

Then Gardner, usually a speedy and opportunistic base stealer, gets caught in a rundown before getting tagged at second by Allen Craig during a headfirst slide.

Both players walked back to the dugout with their heads hung low after the bizarre sequence of events.

It was almost a disastrous play for the slumping Yankees although the mistake didn't cost them the game.

"Gardy did not get a good jump and he has to stop. Jeet had third base easy," an angry but relieved Joe Girardi said after the 5-1 victory. "Running into two outs, I wasn't real happy about it."

It's going to be hard to make the playoffs — and rightfully so — with sloppy plays like that.

Brett Gardner does his own incredible version of Derek Jeter's 'The Dive' (VIDEO)

Brett Gardner tracked down a ball in foul territory and made an incredible catch at Yankee Stadium Wednesday night, flipping over the left field wall and tumbling into the stands for the out.

Brett Gardner, superhuman: http://t.co/CyGShCdycg #Yankees http://t.co/i7qkvAj4CR
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) August 21, 2014

In a way, it's sort of reminiscent of Derek Jeter's legendary "The Dive." And although Gardner didn't make the head-first grab against the Red Sox or come up with a bloodied face — it's still a fantastic play.



And the Yankee leftfielder's catch gives us a chance to relive one of Jeter's most unforgettable career highlights (below) before he heads off to retirement.



Or maybe it will better remind you of Jeter's "The Catch" in the 2001 ALDS against the A's.

Either way — well played Brett.

Derek Jeter's mental lapse contributes to Mariners win (VIDEO)

Derek Jeter's reputation for giving foul balls to little kids in the stands is pretty well documented, but this charitable intention gave the Mariners a triple and helped contribute to a Yankees loss Monday night.

Jeter's rare mental lapse was scored as a "triple to shallow left," but that's really understating what happened after he was ready to give what he thought was a foul ball to a little fan.

Kyle Seager of the Mariners hit a pop up down the left-field line. Jeter, who was playing near third base in a shift, and left fielder Brett Gardner gave chase, with Gardner attempting a sliding catch. The ball popped out of his glove and bounced into Jeter's hands, who almost caught it. When the ball hit the ground, Jeter nonchalantly jogged after it, his back to the rest of the field.

Then Jeter spotted the young fan in the stands and almost handed him the baseball.

"It's a good thing I didn't," the brain-frozen Jeter said.

The Jeter gaffe was a big reason David Phelps allowed a leadoff triple in the fourth inning of Monday's 10-2 loss to the Mariners at Yankee Stadium.

"It never even crossed my mind it was fair," Jeter said.

Phelps said later he thought he might get in trouble for yelling "Throw the ball!" at Jeter from near the pitcher's mound.

But Jeets said he wished the entire stadium was screaming at him.

"I wish the fans would have yelled," Jeter said. "But they wanted the ball."

Phelps — who now has the rare distinction of telling the Yankees Captain what to do — said he didn't fault Jeter.

"I was just hoping he didn't toss the ball into the stands," the pitcher said later. "It looked like a foul ball."

Mets' Jenrry Mejia moonwalks off mound after strikeout (GIF)

Jenrry Mejia was bumped from the Mets starting rotation to the bullpen Monday after a string of bad starts.  But that demotion apparently didn't have anything to do with his dance moves.

The righthander played a crucial part in Monday night's Subway Series opener when Manager Terry Collins asked him to first keep the game close in the seventh and then protect a two-run lead in the eighth. 

Mejia's final pitch was an inning-ending called strike three to Brett Gardner, and he celebrated by moonwalking off the mound:

Girardi, Yankees fly off the handle in wild eighth-inning against Angels (VIDEO)

The Yankees lost more than the game in the bottom of the eighth against the Angels when Shawn Kelley, Matt Thornton and Preston Claiborne combined to allow six walks, the final five in a row after two were out, and forced home three runs. The Angels didn't have a hit in the inning and and still scored three runs for the 4-1 victory.

But even before that, the wild inning featured an explosive argument between Joe Girardi and plate umpire Laz Diaz regarding a called strike to Brett Gardner that got the manager tossed.

With the bases loaded after singles by Kelly Johnson, Brian Roberts and Ichiro Suzuki, Weaver's 1-and-0 pitch to Gardner looked borderline. Diaz punched his arm forward, signaling a strike and upsetting Gardner. "I thought it was low,'' the Yankee said afterward, "but I'm not going to make excuses.''

But it didn't sit well with Girardi. "It's the biggest pitch of the night to that point,'' he said.

Girardi yelled at Diaz from the bench and was promptly and emphatically tossed by Diaz. 

Girardi sprinted from the dugout and engaged in a vein-popping, expletive-filled argument, including a cap spike, with the former Marine Corps reservist  Diaz.

Girardi said that earlier in the game, Diaz "gave me the Mutombo'' finger wag when he complained about a pitch, part of what set him off in the eighth. "I'm not a kid. I don't need to be scolded,'' he said.

No Gatorade shower for Ichiro's walk-off score because of valuable glove (VIDEO)

Ichiro Suzuki scored the winning run with two outs in the bottom of the ninth on a walk-off wild pitch from Brandon Workman to salvage a much-needed 4-3 win against the Red Sox Sunday.

Breaking tradition, Yankees teammate Brett Gardner didn't douse Ichiro with Gatorade after the important victory during a postgame interview because Ichiro was holding his beloved glove. Gardner knows how much importance Ichiro places on his equipment and didn't want to ruin the outfielder's leather accessory.

True story.

Gardner's diving catch looms even larger after Yankees rally against Rangers

Brett Gardner's outstanding diving catch to end the eighth inning and rob Elvis Andrus of a sure double looks a lot better to Yankees fans after their team came back from a 4-3 deficit in the top of the ninth to beat the Rangers, 5-4.

Comebacks have been rare for the weak-hitting Yankees this season—especially with the bottom of the order coming up and down one — so any runs the Rangers could have tacked on to their lead would have greatly diminished just about any chance of a come-from-behind win Tuesday night.

After Gardner's catch kept the Yankees' hopes alive, Brent Lillibridge — recently called up to the Yanks to play a position A-Rod was slated to handle by now — atoned for a costly error earlier at third by driving home Eduardo Nunez for the winning run in front of 42,000 stunned fans at Rangers Ballpark.

Afterwards, Gardner would call it "the biggest win of the year."

Yankees, Red Sox players scared by thunderclaps during rain delay

What could be funnier than than a bunch of grown men having the daylights scared out of them by a thunder storm? When those men are major league baseball players — that's what.

That's exactly what happened in Sunday night's thrice-delayed Yankees-Red Sox game in the Bronx, televised on ESPN.

Cameras caught both dugouts reacting as meekly as children to a loud thunder clap during the sixth inning rain delay.

Poor Brett Gardner of the Yankees was singled out for his extra jumpy reaction in the Bombers' dugout.

On the other side?

The camera caught Boston catcher Jared Saltalamacchia not only jumping at the thunder, but actually jogging out of the dugout and running toward the clubhouse.

Remember guys, it's only the angels bowling.