Bennifer Catches Boston Baseball Brawl

By Stephen M. Silverman

Monday October 13, 2003 01:00 AM EDT

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That on-again, off-again couple, Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez, were very much on Saturday night, as FOX TV cameras and photographers captured them in the stands rooting for Affleck's home team, the Red Sox, in Boston's Game 3 against the New York Yankees.

The Yankees won (4-3), and the public got a visual confirmation, at least, that Bennifer was still alive, at least in Fenway Park.

But even the high-profile couple ended up taking a backseat to what took place on the field Saturday, when a bench-clearing, fourth-inning melee broke out between Yankees bench coach Don Zimmer and Sox pitcher Pedro Martinez after Martinez delivered a pitch that caused Yankees outfielder Karim Garcia to duck.

When Boston's Manny Ramirez took issue with a Roger Clemens pitch, Zimmer lunged at Martinez, who grabbed him and threw him into the ground. After the game, a bandaged Zimmer, said to have broken muscle cartilage, was taken to a hospital by ambulance.

At a Sunday press conference, a crying Zimmer, 72, apologized, saying: "I'm embarrassed for what happened. I'm embarrassed for the Yankees, the Red Sox, the fans, the umpires and my family. That's all I have to say. I'm sorry."

Game 4 was rained out Sunday night, but the Yankees lead the American League series 2-1. (Optimistically, World Series tickets go on sale at Yankee Stadium Monday at noon.)

In the National League, the Chicago Cubs lead 3-2 in their series against the Florida Marlins.

Ben and J.Lo, however, have yet to attend that series.