Mets closer Francisco Rodriguez isn’t a big fan of Yankees reliever Brian Bruney – or his big mouth.
Bruney has pitched only once for New York since April 21 because of a strained elbow. He tossed a perfect inning Saturday in a rehab appearance for Double-A Trenton.
Afterward, he was asked about the Yankees’ wild win over the Mets on Friday night, when second baseman Luis Castillo dropped Alex Rodriguez’s two-out popup in the ninth inning. The error allowed two runs to score, giving the Yankees a 9-8 victory and handing K-Rod his first blown save in 17 chances this season.
“Unbelievable. I’ve never seen anything like that. I have, but in high school,” Bruney said. “It couldn’t happen to a better guy on the mound, either. He’s got a tired act.”
After converting a save, Francisco Rodriguez often pounds his chest and points to the sky while letting out a roar.
Rodriguez shouted at the New York Yankees reliever during batting practice Sunday and the two were separated by teammates one day after they exchanged pointed jabs through the media.
Bruney called Rodriguez’s exuberant celebrations on the mound a “tired act,” and K-Rod said he didn’t know who the injured right-hander was before advising him to “keep his mouth shut.”
In video footage on the YES Network, an angry Rodriguez could be seen pointing at Bruney from a few feet away before Yankees reliever Jose Veras stepped between them in left field.
Bruney held his ground and appeared to say little, if anything. Mets pitcher Mike Pelfrey got in front of Rodriguez and escorted him away.
“I was probably 10 feet away and I just saw K-Rod pointing and raising his voice,” Pelfrey said, “and I just came over and grabbed him and I said ‘C’mon, lets go in.’ He was upset I guess.”
After Bruney said what he did, if K-Rod was approached about the comments all he would have had to say was, “Who the hell is Brian Bruney?”
