Yankees-Red Sox rivalry comes back in big way...big like Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton

American League baseball fans saw something Wednesday night that they haven't seen in a while, and speaking as a New York Yankees fan, it felt good. I'm talking the Yankees-Red Sox rivalry; which came back in not one, but two bench-clearing incidents.

Things got testy in the third inning after Tyler Austin's Yankees spikes clipped Brock Holt's Red Sox leg on a controversial slide into second base. Holt took issue with the minimal contact and they exchanged words before being separated and both benches emptying onto the field. 

But it was four innings later, with the Yankees leading 10-6, when Red Sox reliever Joe Kelly shooed Austin from the plate with a retaliatory 97 mph fastball aimed at his knees that things got interesting. Two pitches later Kelly plunked Austin on the elbow. A pissed off Austin slammed his bat on the plate after the intentional throw and took a step towards Kelly.

"Come on," screamed Kelly ... and it was like old rivalry days again.

WATCH: The Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees got into a crazy bench-clearing brawl pic.twitter.com/Il4CMtc1DL

— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) April 12, 2018

Austin, after getting in a few wild punches, found himself being protected by Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton while Kelly slinked out of the pileup with ripped buttons and scratches on his neck. The two Yankees giants stood above the fray, literally and figuratively, as they sorted out and guided both teams into their respective dugouts ... Judge with a little smile on his face.

“I felt that was a good slide,” Austin said to a disagreeing Holt after they tangled at second base. While they were staring and jawing, out came both teams, including the bullpens with Yankees reliever Tommy Kahnle leading the pack. 

Here's Tyler Austin's slide from earlier. Spikes come up a bit, but he hardly made contact with Holt. He slides through the base. His job is to break up the play. He did his job and he didn't hurt anyone. No malintent there.#Yankees #RedSoxpic.twitter.com/E5c6FwqpBe

— Gary Phillips (@GaryHPhillips) April 12, 2018

Neither brouhaha was up to the drama of Pedro Martinez shoving Don Zimmer to the ground back in the 2003 ALCS, but it's a reminder of how much these two teams really despise each other.

The funniest part? The look on the Red Sox players faces as they watched Judge and Stanton — all 13' 2" of them — wading through the scrum of the tussling players. Like giants among men.

It seems like decades since such fervor filled Fenway Park. Even the "YANKEES SUCK" chant from the Sox faithful sounded heartfelt last night. And that's a good thing.

Giancarlo Stanton has facial fractures after getting hit by pitch (VIDEO)

Miami Marlins slugger Giancarlo Stanton has multiple fractures to his face and dental damage after he was hit by an 88-mph pitch from the Brewers' Mike Fiers in the fifth inning of a 4-2 loss to Milwaukee Thursday night.

Stanton, who leads the majors with 105 RBIs and has a National League-leading 37 home runs, is probably done for the season, Marlins Manager Mike Redmond said after the game.

Stanton was stretchered off the field after lying on the ground motionless for several minutes as he was tended to by medical personnel. He was bleeding profusely. Stanton's father was in attendance and joined his son on the field while he was given medical attention and went with him to the hospital.

The benches later cleared after Fiers plunked Reed Johnson on the hand. Redmond and Marlins third baseman Casey McGhee were thrown were both ejected after the umpire issued warnings about hitting batters.

Giancarlo Stanton sends home run to another planet — ‘Planet Hoagie’ (VIDEO)

Giancarlo Stanton has hit some long long home runs during his four years with the Marlins.

But Wednesday night in Philadelphia, he sent a baseball to another planet — Planet Hoagie.

With his team trailing 3-1 in the sixth inning, Stanton crushed Evan Martin's 1-1 pitch so far over the left-center field wall it ended up hitting a concession stand with a sign that says "Planet Hoagie" in one of the upper decks of Citizens Bank Park.

Who ordered the No. 6 with mayo and a Rawlings?

ESPN's Home Run Tracker estimated the blast at 463 feet, but watching the video with the naked eye it looks like it was hit twice as far.

If the distance is accurate, Stanton's would be tied for 11th longest homer in the Majors this season.

Stanton has missed time due to injury this season, but now 23 home runs in 106 games. It was the 116th homer of his four-year career.

The 57-98 Marlins won the game 4-3 in 10 innings. 

Mets Closer Frank Francisco goes off on umpire

New York Mets closer Frank Francisco has blown a lot of games this season but yesterday he blew his top and it may have cost him his job.

Francisco didn't even retire a batter in the top of the ninth against the Miami Marlins before he was pulled from the game, walked towards home plate and started to unload a barrage of expletives at home plate umpire Todd Tichenor.

With the Mets leading 4-2, Francisco allowed a leadoff triple to Emilio Bonafacio and walked John Buck on four pitches before Doug Dobbs had an RBI single.  Mets coach Terry Collins removed his combustible closer and had to separate Francisco from the umpire as he marched towards home plate screaming obscenities at Tichenor before being ejected.

Francisco claimed all four balls he threw to Buck were strikes and blamed Tichenor for squeezing the strike zone.

After Giancarlo Stanton's walk-off grand slam against Manny Acosta gave the Marlins an 8-4 victory at Miami Park, it was reported that Francisco vacantly stared at his locker while the other players dressed.

Francisco is 1-3 with an 8.56 ERA and probably wouldn't be surprised to find himself demoted.

Collins told The New York Post he wouldn't address the problem right now.

"The emotions are running a little high tonight," said Collins.  "And that's not a good time to make a decision."