Saltalamacchia Backtracks On 'Latin Players' Comment

BOSTON (CBS) - Yankees catcher Francisco Cervelli hit a solo home run off John Lackey in the fifth inning of Tuesday night's game, clapping as he crossed home plate.

In his next at-bat, he was drilled and motioned toward the pitching mound, causing the benches to empty. No punches were thrown and no players were ejected, but tensions were high.

"It's part of the game," Cervelli told reporters after the game (AP Quote). "Yankees-Boston, everybody wants to win."

Perhaps in response to the Cervelli beaning, Red Sox catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia was drilled by Mariano Rivera in the ninth inning.

Salty, who witnessed Cervelli's antics first-hand, told reporters that's "the way he's played for the three years I've watched him."

WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Jonny Miller spoke to Saltalamacchia after the game:

"Younger guys are coming in, I've seen it: Elvis Andrus, Escobar over at short, a lot of guys... It's just the Latin players," Saltalamacchia said. "That's the way they play the game. It's OK to an extent. If you go a little further than that, that's when you gotta kinda step back."

Sean McAdam, a frequent contributor to 98.5 The Sports Hub, said Salty later stepped back from his comments, clarifying that he meant that younger players are brought up with a different code than some of the veterans.

"I basically wanted to clarify and say I wasn't trying to say 'Latin' players or any of that stuff," Saltalamacchia said later. "I was just saying he was an emotional guy and a lot of the younger guys coming up were emotional players and they're young guys coming up, wanting to make a name, and stick around. The game's changed a little bit from when the older guys were coming up and veterans were a key in their development. So, basically, I was saying he's a real emotional guy and I have no issues with him, doing what he does, because that's the player he is."