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Angry Girardi to Rays after benches clear: 'Pitch the right way'

Kim Klement / USA TODAY Sports

New York Yankees manager Joe Girardi had some strong words for the Tampa Bay Rays after a loss that saw three Yankees players ejected and both benches clear on Tuesday night. 

Girardi went off after Yankee captain Derek Jeter was hit by a pitch from reliever Steve Geltz in the eighth inning. Jeter was the fifth Yankee to have been hit by a Rays pitcher in the last four games, a trend that hasn't seen the Yankees return the favor. Jeter has worn two and Chase Headley was sent to the hospital after being hit on the chin. 

"If you are going to pitch inside, pitch the right way," Girardi said to reporters after the game. "If you can't pitch inside, don't pitch inside. We are not pin cushions." 

With the Rays holding a five-run lead in the eighth, Geltz - making his 10th major league appearance - hit Jeter with a 95-mph fastball. Girardi stormed out of the dugout after plate umpire Rob Drake warned both benches, and was ejected after he began yelling in Geltz's direction. 

"If you are going to pitch inside, learn how to pitch inside," Girardi reiterated. "You pitch down in the zone. You don't pitch up. This is not practice. This is guys' livelihood."

Rays manager Joe Maddon agreed with Girardi to a degree, but offered no apologies. 

"I agree with everything he said, but to pitch inside correctly or incorrectly, that's not the point," Maddon said. "It is called baseball; sometimes hitters get hit. But I understand their frustration entirely. We are not going to apologize for it because it is part of the game. But I do get why he was upset."

Headley, who missed four games after being hit by Rays pitcher Jake McGee, offered similar sentiments to his manager. 

You shouldn't be in the big leagues if you keep doing that consistently. I mean, guys are throwing too hard.... Granted, I know that balls get away every now and then. I get it. It can't keep happening. If a guy can't control the fastball, he can't pitch in there. He can't be in the game. He can't be in the big leagues because guys' careers are at stake. You can't have it happen. Again, I don't think there is intent, but that doesn't change what can possibly happen.

The Yankees and Rays face each other for the final time this season on Wednesday night in Tampa. 

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