MLB Spring Training 2012: New Pitcher Adds Fuel to the Yankees/Red Sox Rivalry

The contest between the Yankees and Red Sox on Thursday night ended in very odd fashion, with the Yankees literally walking off the field in the top of the 10th inning while tied at 4-4.

It was an interesting occurrence, because newly acquired Red Sox reliever Clayton Mortensen was on the mound and ready to pitch.

Bobby Valentine, who hasn't been shy about speaking his mind since becoming the Sox manager, described the Yankees' decision as "not very courteous." It seemed as if the Yankees still had pitchers available for the game to continue, but instead they chose to exit the premises.

Mortensen took their departure much, much worse than Valentine.

"I was pretty pissed, actually," Mortensen said. "I finally get my chance to get into an inning, something that I believe my role would kind of be—late innings, tie ballgame, come in against the Yankees—I was all fired up, ready to go. I was talking with (catcher Ryan Lavarnway on the mound), 'Let's do this sign with a runner on second,' and all of a sudden it was, 'Game's over, dude.'

"I was like, 'What?!' I wasn't happy. I thought it was funny that they said they were out of pitching. Well, you're not pitching. You don't want to hit?

"It's just funny that it just happens to be the Yankees. It starts up the whole thing already. Whatever. I just wanted to get in and pitch. Sitting in the bullpen, we tied it up and I said, 'Sweet—I get to go in there and throw an inning,' and then the game's over before I know it. What just happened?"

Every inning counts for a pitcher like Mortensen, as he's only appeared in three Grapefruit League games this spring. He has tossed six scoreless innings in those outings, striking out seven and walking two.

Because of Mortensen's position on the club (a lower priority pitcher on the 40-man roster than what the team is considering for the Opening Day roster), the events on Thursday were particularly frustrating.

He later went on to say:

"It's my chance to show them I can kind of do it. Then my chance gets taken away by the damn Yankees. People always say that in baseball, you always see something new every year. There's something new for you. I've never seen that one. Oh well."

Ironically, Mortensen was cut on Friday morning, getting optioned to Triple-A Pawtucket.

The right-hander had his best major league season in 2011, going 2-4 with a 3.86 ERA in 16 games. It was also his worst performance in the minors, though. In 64 Triple-A innings, he was 2-8 with a 9.42 ERA.

He may have been sent down for now, but it's likely that he'll be up with the team at some point this summer. When he finally get's his next crack at the Yankees, it will definitely be interesting to see how he handles himself.

As if the Yankees and Red Sox rivalry needed more fireworks. I guess we'll just have to wait and see how this pans out.