Video: Alex Rodriguez, Varitek Brawl Discussed in Teaser for 2004 Red Sox Documentary

Twenty years after the absolute peak of the rivalry between the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox, many of the key figures from that season have reconvened for an upcoming Netflix documentary titled The Comeback: 2004 Red Sox.

In a teaser for the documentary, key members of the Red Sox organization, including Jason Varitek, and Boston media recall the infamous brawl between the star catcher and Alex Rodriguez that occurred during the 2004 regular season.

The incident occurred third inning of a game between the AL East rivals at Fenway Park on July 24, 2004.

Red Sox starter Bronson Arroyo hit Rodriguez in the arm with a pitch. A-Rod began saying something to Arroyo, leading to Varitek stepping in and exchanging words with the Yankees star.

Tempers quickly boiled over when Varitek shoved Rodriguez and both benches cleared. A total of eight players were disciplined for their roles in the altercation, with Varitek and Rodriguez both receiving a four-game ban and an undisclosed fine.

Tanyon Sturtze, Gabe Kapler and Trot Nixon were fined and suspended for three games. Kenny Lofton, Curt Schilling and David Ortiz received fines but no suspension.

In an oral history of the altercation written by The Athletic's Jen McCaffrey for its 15th anniversary in 2019, Schilling explained what Varitek said that got to Rodriguez:

"He hit him. I know exactly what Alex was doing. He was talking shit because he wanted to be a tough guy and Alex was working hard that year to try and be a part of that team. And him and 'Tek are going face to face. He says, 'Throw that s--t over the plate.' And 'Tek says, 'Hey dude, we don't hit .260 hitters.' And then that's when you see Alex look at him and go, 'F--k you. F--k you.'"

The Yankees were leading 3-0 at the time of the brawl. They extended their advantage to 9-4 going into the bottom of the sixth after scoring six runs in the top half of the frame.

Boston got within one by scoring four times in the sixth, but the Yankees went up 10-8 with a run in the seventh. After being held scoreless in the seventh and eighth, Mariano Rivera came in to close out the game for New York.

Rivera had a 0.89 ERA with 35 saves in 36 opportunities at that point in the season. The Red Sox got to him for three runs on three hits, capped off by Bill Mueller's walk-off two-run homer to steal the win.

The Red Sox entered the day with a 53-44 record, sitting on the outside of the AL playoff picture and 9.5 games behind the Yankees in the division race. The walk-off after the brawl has been credited with sparking the team's turnaround.

Boston went 45-20 over the final 65 games of the regular season to finish with the second-best record in the AL, behind only the Yankees (101-61). The two teams met in the ALCS for the second consecutive year.

After losing in Game 7 on Aaron Boone's walk-off homer in the 11th inning of the 2003 ALCS, the Red Sox exorcised 86 years worth of demons by becoming the first—and to date, only—team in MLB history to pull off a 3-0 series comeback.

The Red Sox capped off their miracle season by sweeping the St. Louis Cardinals to win the franchise's first World Series title since 1918.

Netflix will release the documentary on Oct. 23, exactly 20 years to the date that Game 1 of the 2004 World Series was played at Fenway Park.