There was a bizarre scene prior to the start of Thursday’s Fourth of July matinee between the Yankees and Reds in The Bronx, as the beginning of the game was nearly delayed by a national anthem standoff. 

A pair of pitchers from both teams continued to stand at attention long after the anthem ended. 

Two injured Yankee pitchers, Ian Hamilton and Cody Poteet, stood on the first-base line, while Cincinnati pitchers Graham Ashcraft and Carson Spiers hoped to be the last ones to salute from the third-base line.

The Yankees took the field for the top of the first, while Marcus Stroman warmed up, and all four players were still on the field as home-plate umpire Alan Porter gestured for both sides to exit the field. 

Third-base umpire Jim Wolf also talked with the two groups before Aaron Boone finally asked his players to “get off” the field, which they did. 

Boone said the start of the game was not delayed by the antics. 

“It had the potential to be,’’ Boone said after the 8-4 loss.

“I think they were right up against it.” 

Porter ended up briefly leaving the field during the standoff because he had to go back to the umpire’s locker room for some equipment. 

Poteet said the standoff was not planned beforehand and was partially a product of the added pregame festivities. 

“There wasn’t much thought to it,’’ Poteet said.

“It wasn’t a normal anthem, since they had the color guard, so we were standing there a little extra anyway. We noticed they were still standing, so we wanted to see who could outlast each other. We took it all the way to the last bit, close to the game starting. Just a little fun.” 

Ashcraft ended up being the last player standing. 

“It’s something that happens naturally, I guess,’’ Poteet said.

“It’s a little competition within the game. It’s probably the first one I’ve been a part of.” 

The national anthem standoff at the Fourth of July matinee between the Yankees and Reds added an unexpected twist to the pregame festivities at The Bronx. The scene unfolded as two pitchers from each team continued to stand at attention well after the anthem had ended, creating a standoff situation. Injured Yankee pitchers Ian Hamilton and Cody Poteet stood on the first-base line, while Cincinnati pitchers Graham Ashcraft and Carson Spiers stood firm on the third-base line.

As the standoff persisted, both home-plate umpire Alan Porter and third-base umpire Jim Wolf had to intervene and gesture for the players to exit the field. Manager Aaron Boone eventually had to step in and instruct his players to leave the field, bringing the standoff to an end. Despite the unusual delay, Boone insisted that the start of the game was not significantly affected.

The standoff, according to Poteet, was not premeditated and was partly a result of the extended pregame ceremonies. With the color guard presentation adding to the anthem’s duration, the players found themselves standing a little longer than usual, leading to the impromptu competition. Ashcraft emerged as the last man standing, winning the friendly contest.

Reflecting on the incident, Poteet noted that it was a unique experience and added a fun element to the pregame routine. The competitive spirit among players naturally led to the standoff, showcasing a lighter side to the game. Despite the unexpected delay, the players were able to regroup and focus on the game ahead.

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Source: Tampa Bay Times