"Unfortunate, but that's part of the game" - Pedro Martinez opens up about being punched by ex-Yankees manager Don Zimmer during heated 2003 ALCS

The New York Yankees and Pedro Martinez's Boston Red Sox rivalry of the past had some heated encounters. That was exemplified in the 2003 and 2004 ALCS, where the series needed game 7 deciders. In partnership with Netflix, the Red Sox released The Comeback a special docuseries that covers the team's 2004 World Series win.

The three-part documentary has a first episode dedicated to Boston's 2003 season. The in-depth interviews lead up to Game 3 of the ALCS at Fenway Park. Roger Clemens and Pedro Martinez started on the mound for the Yankees and Red Sox respectively.

In the fourth inning, Martinez lost control of his ball and hit Yankees slugger Karim Garcia near the head with a fastball. Garcia and Martinez exchanged some words when the Yankees batter tried to reach second base, resulting in the out. There were further words exchanged between Yanks catcher Jorge Posada and Martinez.

In the next inning, Roger Clemens in retaliation threw a high pitch to Boston hitter Manny Ramirez. The two came to a heads with both dugouts emptying.

In the subsequent scuffle, Yankees bench coach Don Zimmer and Pedro Martinez got into a brawl. A much older Zimmer tried to punch the Red Sox starter but was thawrted to the ground immediately.

In the docuemntary, Martinez explained it as a very unfortunate situation, something which is a part of the game.

"I see him kinda coming over. But I am thinking he's probably gonna approach me to talk to me about something. Just go, 'what, what' and that's where I pretty much heard exactly what Posada said. But from Zimmer's mouth. He bull rushed me and threw a jab. It was just natural instincts. It was unfortunate. But that's it, it was part of the game," Martinez said. [46:40]

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Pedro Martinez 'only regret' in career was his reaction to Don Zimmer

Almost a decade back, Pedro Martinez in his book, Pedro had said that it made him uneasy to think a lot of fans after the 2003 ALCS incident looked at him as someone who hurt an elder man on the baseball field.

He regarded it as the sole regret of his career.

"Some days I feel more people remember me as the angry young man who pushed down a defenseless old man than as the pitcher who won three Cy Young Awards and a world title and wound up in the Hall of Fame. In my entire baseball career, my reaction to Zimmer’s charge is my only regret," Martinez had written.

The Red Sox lost Game 3 and would eventually go on to lose the ALCS in seven games. They would come back the next year and in the repeat fixture and win it all in 2004.