Reds’ Ashcraft units ‘tone’ in lengthy post-anthem stare-down with Yanks

NEW YORK — Graham Ashcraft and the Cincinnati Reds gained a stare-down with the New York Yankees even earlier than ending their three-game sweep.

When the nationwide anthem ended forward of Thursday’s sport, Ashcraft and fellow Reds pitcher Carson Spiers remained in entrance of the guests dugout on the third-base facet of Yankee Stadium whereas New York pitchers Ian Hamilton and Cody Poteet held out on the first-base facet.

Their showdown prolonged for greater than 5 minutes as gamers ignored gestures from the umpires instructing them to vacate the sector so the sport may start. Ashcraft gained the battle, pumping a fist and getting high-fives and cheers from teammates when he outlasted his Yankees counterparts earlier than the Reds’ 8-4 win Thursday.

“That additionally set the tone,” mentioned Spencer Steer, whose three-run homer within the fifth inning gave Cincinnati a 5-0 lead.

By no means again down, by no means what? pic.twitter.com/gPE0YWf0CX

— Cincinnati Reds (@Reds) July 4, 2024

Steer praised Ashcraft, utilizing the pitcher’s given first identify, Douglas.

“That was fairly superior of Doug simply to sort of win that one for us and sort of give us a bit edge earlier than the primary pitch,” Steer mentioned.

All 4 gamers ignored plate umpire Alan Porter, who made a shooing movement with each palms. Porter then dispatched third-base umpire Jim Wolf to induce them off the sector.

“Lucas Sims did not have a hat on the market, so he took my hat, did not need to be standing there with no hat on the Fourth of July,” Spiers mentioned, referring to a different Reds pitcher. “So me being a rookie, I used to be standing there with no hat, no matter, trying dumb. After which, because the factor was ending, Sims was like: ‘Spiers, you bought to remain right here till the final one.’ So I used to be like, all proper, no matter. I will keep. Positive sufficient, their guys stayed, too. So I used to be like, ‘Oh god, right here I am going. Like, I am in for it a very long time.’ And I noticed Graham sort of slide over with me, and from there it was the lengthy haul.”

They’d a quick reprieve when Porter returned to the umpires clubhouse to retrieve a shin guard. Being a rookie making the $740,000 minimal, Spiers determined to peel off first.

“Enthusiastic about the tremendous and figuring out that I could not afford it,” he mentioned. “So I simply made a enterprise determination.”

New York’s pitchers, each on the injured checklist, lastly walked off after supervisor Aaron Boone gestured for them to go away.

“A bit of competitors inside the sport, I assume,” Poteet mentioned. “That is most likely the primary one I’ve ever been part of however it took all the way in which to the final bit the place it is getting near the sport beginning.”

Ashcraft, in his third main league season, has a barely greater wage at $750,000. He began and bought the win in Tuesday’s sequence opener and wasn’t going to pitch in Thursday’s sport.

“We noticed they weren’t transferring and one of many guys informed Carson to remain, and I used to be like, ‘I am staying with you as a result of I am not transferring,'” Ashcraft mentioned. “‘I ain’t bought nothing to do at present. I am staying till I win or I get ejected or each.'”