Ex-Red Sox Joe Kelly Reflects On 2018 Brawl With Former Yankee

Before the Red Sox seized their ninth World Series title in 2018, former Boston reliever Joe Kelly was involved in an all-time brawl against the rival New York Yankees that season.

And Kelly, now a member of the Chicago White Sox, apparently wasn’t willing to leave it at that.

For those unaware, the bad blood was birthed during a regular-season matchup against the Yankees at Fenway Park on April 11. Former infielder Brock Holt was clipped by the cleats of ex-Yankees designated hitter Tyler Austin during a force out at second base in the fifth inning, which sparked the initial bench-clearing confrontation between both sides. No punches, just chatter.

That was until Red Sox skipper Alex Cora called on Kelly to make a relief appearance in the seventh inning. And that’s when Boston and New York wrote another chapter in their historic and heated rivalry. Kelly struck Austin with a 98 MPH fastball. Austin slammed his bat, and Kelly challenged his approach to the mound, which a heated Austin obliged, followed by haymakers. Kelly was handed a six-game suspension, Austin received a five-game ban.

Rewatch the Beantown brawl here, courtesy of MLB:

Nearly five years later, the 34-year-old revealed a mini-sequel from the past, which revisited that unforgettable night.

“My agents were in the car. We were driving through Times Square (in New York) and they’re joking around and they’re like, ‘Oh my God, there’s Tyler Austin. Do you want me to unlock the door for you?'” Kelly told MLB Network’s Chris Rose. “And the only thing I heard was Tyler Austin. I didn’t know they were like joking around. And I was like, ‘Yeah, let’s go.’ I just instantly locked and I started like crawling on the seat.”

Kelly added: “There would have been some talking.”

And while Kelly’s reaction wasn’t supported by his agents at the time, the 11-year big leaguer has a refined perception when it comes to physical altercations in public spaces.

“Now, a much older Joe Kelly, that would probably never happen,” Kelly said. “But it’s something I want people to understand.”

So, perhaps the resentment can be put to rest once and for all.