BOSTON (AP) Boston police are looking for witnesses to a fight between two Yankees and a Fenway Park worker in the New York bullpen during the AL championship series Saturday night before deciding whether to file charges.
''They're looking for people to come forward,'' officer Michael McCarthy, a police spokesman, said Sunday morning.
Grounds crew worker Paul Williams and Red Sox officials contend that Yankees pitcher Jeff Nelson and outfielder Karim Garcia attacked Williams during the ninth inning.
With tempers already high following a bench-clearing melee earlier in the game, Nelson was annoyed that Williams was cheering for the Red Sox while he was in the New York bullpen.
''He was standing in our bullpen waving the rally flag,'' the reliever said, following New York's 4-3 win. ''I told him, 'If you're rooting for the Red Sox, why don't you go in their bullpen.' He jumped in my face and tried to take a swing at me.''
Police spokeswoman Mariellen Burns said Saturday that assault charges could be filed against the two players.
''Summons may be issued,'' she said, ''but we're looking for more detailed information before that happens.''
Boston police on Sunday refused to release an incident report, which contains the responding officers' initial interpretation of what happened.
''We're not releasing the report,'' McCarthy said. ''I don't know why. I don't know what happens next. They're not making any more comments on it.''
There was no immediate information on how long the investigation will take, McCarthy said.
After Nelson confronted Williams, several Yankees surrounded him. Garcia, the right fielder, jumped over the fence and hurt his left hand. He was removed from the game before the bottom of the ninth with the hand wrapped.
Williams had cleat marks on his back and his arm, and he may have been kicked in the mouth, Red Sox spokesman Charles Steinberg said.
Williams was treated at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and was released early Sunday morning. He wore a neck brace when he left the hospital. Beth Israel spokeswoman Bonnie Prescott said Williams underwent tests in the emergency room. She released no details on any injuries.
Steinberg said Nelson and Garcia attacked Williams.
''The Red Sox are terribly concerned and distressed about the attack on our employee,'' he said.
The Yankees denied the players were to blame and demanded an apology from the Red Sox.
''A security incident like this would never be tolerated at Yankee Stadium,'' president Randy Levine told The Associated Press. ''Unfortunately, there was an atmosphere of lawlessness that was allowed to be perpetrated all day long. The events of the entire day were disgraceful and shameful, and if it happened at our ballpark, we would apologize, and that's what the Red Sox should do here.''
Williams acknowledged pumping his fist twice while holding a white towel after the Red Sox turned a double play in the ninth inning, Steinberg said.
''If that was in poor taste, or poor judgment, it certainly didn't warrant a beating,'' Steinberg said.
The Red Sox also said that two police officers in the bullpen backed Williams' story.
http://www.boston.com/dailynews/285/sports/Two_Yankees_may_face_charges_a:.shtml
''They're looking for people to come forward,'' officer Michael McCarthy, a police spokesman, said Sunday morning.
Grounds crew worker Paul Williams and Red Sox officials contend that Yankees pitcher Jeff Nelson and outfielder Karim Garcia attacked Williams during the ninth inning.
With tempers already high following a bench-clearing melee earlier in the game, Nelson was annoyed that Williams was cheering for the Red Sox while he was in the New York bullpen.
''He was standing in our bullpen waving the rally flag,'' the reliever said, following New York's 4-3 win. ''I told him, 'If you're rooting for the Red Sox, why don't you go in their bullpen.' He jumped in my face and tried to take a swing at me.''
Police spokeswoman Mariellen Burns said Saturday that assault charges could be filed against the two players.
''Summons may be issued,'' she said, ''but we're looking for more detailed information before that happens.''
Boston police on Sunday refused to release an incident report, which contains the responding officers' initial interpretation of what happened.
''We're not releasing the report,'' McCarthy said. ''I don't know why. I don't know what happens next. They're not making any more comments on it.''
There was no immediate information on how long the investigation will take, McCarthy said.
After Nelson confronted Williams, several Yankees surrounded him. Garcia, the right fielder, jumped over the fence and hurt his left hand. He was removed from the game before the bottom of the ninth with the hand wrapped.
Williams had cleat marks on his back and his arm, and he may have been kicked in the mouth, Red Sox spokesman Charles Steinberg said.
Williams was treated at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and was released early Sunday morning. He wore a neck brace when he left the hospital. Beth Israel spokeswoman Bonnie Prescott said Williams underwent tests in the emergency room. She released no details on any injuries.
Steinberg said Nelson and Garcia attacked Williams.
''The Red Sox are terribly concerned and distressed about the attack on our employee,'' he said.
The Yankees denied the players were to blame and demanded an apology from the Red Sox.
''A security incident like this would never be tolerated at Yankee Stadium,'' president Randy Levine told The Associated Press. ''Unfortunately, there was an atmosphere of lawlessness that was allowed to be perpetrated all day long. The events of the entire day were disgraceful and shameful, and if it happened at our ballpark, we would apologize, and that's what the Red Sox should do here.''
Williams acknowledged pumping his fist twice while holding a white towel after the Red Sox turned a double play in the ninth inning, Steinberg said.
''If that was in poor taste, or poor judgment, it certainly didn't warrant a beating,'' Steinberg said.
The Red Sox also said that two police officers in the bullpen backed Williams' story.
http://www.boston.com/dailynews/285/sports/Two_Yankees_may_face_charges_a:.shtml
