Reds beat Yankees in a classic national anthem standoff on July 4th

Nothing could match Graham Ashcraft's Fourth of July patriotism.

On the Fourth of July at Yankee Stadium, nothing was going to stop the game before the game.

After the national anthem was played Thursday afternoon, Yankees pitchers Cody Poteet and Ian Hamilton kept their place in front of one dugout, while Cincinnati Reds pitchers Cody Spiers and Graham Ashcraft stood in front of the other.

A literal standoff ensued, like a patriotic game of chicken.

Spiers peeled off after a few moments, but Ashcraft and the two Yankees stood their ground as Cincinnati’s outfielders jogged into place and as Jonathan India approached the mound.

And then, Yankees manager Aaron Boone told his guys to knock it off. Ashcraft won, and the Reds celebrated like they had hit a walk-off home run.

Graham Ashcraft and the @Reds win the standoff! pic.twitter.com/UhcApBnxJv

— MLB (@MLB) July 4, 2024

The Reds also went on to win the actual game, 8-4. And afterwards, folks online had some spicy takes about Boone and the Yankees, who have now lost three straight and are 2-8 in their last 10 games.

Aaron Boone is the worst the Yankees are having a standoff with Cincy after the national anthem even though it's dumb how can Boone call his guys off the field and the Yankees lose! Boone is a killer of fun! #mlb

— Bill Rupp (@Rupp45) July 4, 2024

The standoff was stupid. Yankees shouldn’t be doing that right now. They are a losing ball club. Aaron Boone doesn’t have control of his locker room and this made it obvious. Especially with this being 2 relievers on the IL

— Jacob Kaye (@JacobKaye_) July 4, 2024

WOW. What a soft move by Aaron Boone telling the Yankees to stop the standoff.

Maybe just lost the game before it starts

— 4 Train Savages (@FourSavages) July 4, 2024

For me, I didn't need some silly standoff to know that Aaron Boone is a loser.

We will look back on these years as the Boone Swoon. Years in which the team had major talent surrounded by scrubs and an organization with a losing mentality – managed by a fool.

— rr (@rr2577) July 4, 2024

The Baltimore Orioles are 2.5 games ahead of New York in the AL East standings.