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Boone says rookie umpire Brennan Miller "handled the situation with a lot more class than I did."

Yankees manager Aaron Boone apologizes for 'savages' tirade

With a day to reflect on his epic tirade against a rookie umpire during a Yankees game Thursday versus the Rays, New York manager Aaron Boone said Friday that Brennan Miller "handled the situation with a lot more class than I did."

Boone, who received a one-game suspension for his profanity-laced rant, told the New York Post he had apologized to Miller.

“I called him (Friday) morning,’’ Boone told the Post. “We had a good conversation. I told him he handled himself well and called a good game. I said someday we might laugh about this."

There was no laughing Thursday when Boone popped out of the dugout in the second inning of the first game of the doubleheader after Miller called out Brett Gardner on strikes.

"My guys are f---ing savages in that f---ing box, right? And you're having a piece of s--- start to this game. I feel bad for you, but f---ing get better," Boone was heard saying. “Tighten it up right now, OK?"

Aaron Boone protecting his players#YANKSonYES pic.twitter.com/VLeDUwtPMl
— YES Network (@YESNetwork) July 18, 2019

Boone also made contact with Miller, before Miller tossed him. But not after getting an earful that was picked up by microphones.

“Brennan, I thought, certainly handled the situation with a lot more class than I did,’’ Boone told the Post. “But also, I thought, turned in a really good game.”

The Yankees went on to win the game and sweep the Rays in the matchup of the top two teams in the AL East.

New York expanded its lead over Tampa Bay to nine games with a win Friday over the Rockies, but the Yankees did it without Boone, who was serving a one-game suspension.

“Yeah, I knew I made contact with my hat, and (Miller) said it right when it happened,’’ Boone told the Post. “That happened to me last year. I figured I’d be getting a call at some point from (Joe Torre, MLB's chief baseball officer) and I did.”

Josh Bard subbed for Boone as the Yankees won their fourth game in a row to improve to an AL-best 63-33.

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