Giancarlo Stanton of the New York Yankees and Mike Fiers of the Detroit Tigers engage in a war of words after their game Monday, with Fiers calling Stanton’s actions “childish.”
Giancarlo Stanton clearly wasn’t happy with being hit again by Mike Fiers, who said that the Yankees slugger’s reaction to their latest spat was “childish.”
Fiers plunked Stanton on the left forearm in the third inning of the Tigers‘ 4-2 victory Monday over the Yankees, leading to a brief verbal exchange between the Detroit pitcher and the reigning National League MVP.
In September 2014, Fiers was pitching for the Brewers when he hit Stanton in the face with a pitch, causing serious injuries to the then-Marlins star.
“He wasn’t trying to hit me [tonight], but still, with the history, don’t hit me,” Stanton said Monday. “That doesn’t eliminate pitching [inside] — this is the major leagues — but either get it over the plate or make sure it doesn’t hit me.”
Stanton exacted some revenge in the sixth inning by blasting a 456-foot home run off Fiers, emphatically flipping his bat and then pointing his finger at the right-hander as he crossed home plate.
“I understand that he’s pissed, but the way he handled it was kind of childish,” Fiers said. “He’s going to act how he’s going to act, but it kind of shows his character.
“Getting his revenge and throwing his bat and pointing? That’s not part of this game. Yeah, you’re supposed to have fun, but I think that’s kind of childish.”
Stanton has worn a protective guard over his left cheek/jaw area ever since being hit in the face by Fiers’ 88 mph fastball on Sept. 11, 2014. He suffered season-ending facial fractures and also needed to undergo multiple dental procedures. Stanton has the right to do whatever he wants, the guy plunked him in the face. You never forget that.
