Rough tag from Royals' Garcia reignites feud with Jazz

KANSAS CITY -- In the latest chapter of a brewing feud between the Yankees’ Jazz Chisholm Jr. and the Royals’ Maikel Garcia, choice words were once again exchanged about a physical play on the basepaths following New York’s 10-2 win on Tuesday at Kauffman Stadium.

The play in question this time was Chisholm’s steal of third base in the sixth inning. The Yankees’ third baseman slid head first into the bag where Garcia was awaiting a throw from catcher Freddy Fermin. The ball came in just above Chisholm’s head as he reached the base as Garcia attempted to catch the ball and tag Chisholm in one motion -- causing Chisholm’s helmet to fall off when the tag was applied to the top of his head, which collided directly with Garcia’s knee.

Chisholm was removed in the bottom of the seventh with neck tightness and a cut on his right thumb, but said he expects to play Wednesday.

"I just feel like every time we have a problem, it’s always been him [Garcia],” Chisholm said. “That’s the only reason I was so frustrated. And then to even see that he didn’t even have the ball for the way that he tagged me, it was just, I didn’t like it. You know what I mean? So, just frustrated, you know. That’s it.”

Garcia said he was “just trying to do his job” by tagging Chisholm.

"I missed the ball,” Garcia said.

After the tag, the broadcast appeared to capture Chisholm saying he would “smack” Garcia if a tag like that happened again.

"I’m waiting for it,” said Garcia, who didn’t hear the comments at the time but was made aware of them postgame. “It’s just talk.”

This feud started after Game 2 of the 2024 American League Division Series when Chisholm said that the Royals “just got lucky” after their 4-2 win over the Yankees. Chisholm was greeted with loud boos in the postseason during Games 3 and 4 at Kauffman Stadium, and the boos carried over into Tuesday night.

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"I still like it [being the villain],” Chisholm said. “Yeah, I think I went up to home plate today and I told Fermin, ‘I kind of like it.’ I'm not at home, so I don't expect to get -- I would rather walk up to something, you know, instead of walking up to no noise at all. I feel like on the road, when road hitters come up and there's nothing going on, I feel like it's just bland. Go ahead and boo me, you’re giving me music at least to walk up to.”

In Game 4 of the ALDS, tempers flared again when Garcia slid hard into Yankees shortstop Anthony Volpe, who responded with a high tag in Garcia’s head/neck area before patting him on the back and directing Garcia to the Royals’ dugout. Chisholm came over from third base to chirp at Garcia for the slide, which caused the benches to clear.

After Game 4, Chisholm called Garcia a ‘sore loser’ during the Yankees’ clubhouse celebration in response to Garcia’s slide.

Garcia brought up that slide and tag on Tuesday, but regarding whether this will all boil over to Wednesday and Thursday, the Royals’ third baseman was more focused on helping Kansas City get back in the win column.

"I don’t know. I’m just trying to play my game and win the games,” Garcia said.