Why Yankees’ Tyler Austin says ‘no chance’ he’ll kiss and make up with Red Sox’s Joe Kelly

Yankees first baseman Tyler Austin ignited a bench-clearing brawl in April after being hit by Red Sox reliever Joe Kelly.

NEW YORK — The Boston Red Sox’ pre-game stretch began in front of their third-base dugout as the Yankees were finishing up batting practice for Tuesday night’s series opener at Yankee Stadium.

As usual, this led to some brief but friendly chitchatting between a few Yankees and Red Sox players.

Yankees, Red Sox showdown | What you need to know

Yankees first baseman Tyler Austin and Red Sox reliever Joe Kelly didn’t talk, and they’re not going to this week … or maybe ever.

“No chance,” Austin said.

It’s been almost a month since Kelly drilled Austin with a pitch in retaliation for a hard slide, Austin charged the mound and both benches emptied for an ugly brawl on April 11 at Fenway Park.

Neither Austin nor Kelly played the next night when the Yankees and Red Sox concluded their first of six 2018 series, and this week’s games are the first since between the AL East rivals.

Austin says that he has no hard feelings toward Kelly, but he doesn’t want to talk to him to clear the air, either.

“I didn’t know him beforehand, so I don’t need to talk to him now,” Austin said. “No. We’re not talking. I don’t think there’s any need to talk.”

They could face each other in Tuesday’s game, as Austin is in the Yankees’ lineup and playing first base in a rare start against a right-handed pitcher.

“If the opportunity comes up, why not?” Austin said.

Austin was given a five-game suspension that was reduced to four after a hearing for his role in the brawl, while Kelly got six for his part.

Austin has said all along that he has no regrets. He felt that he had to stick up for himself at that moment, and that’s why he chased down Kelly after being hit.

“Yeah,” Austin said. “I feel like that’s the way it is. It’s part of the game. It’s not fun, not embarrassing … it’s just part of it.”

Kelly wasn’t available for an interview before Tuesday’s game, but he interestedly commented on Sunday that he was concerned that Yankees fans might do more than fire insults at him while he’s in the visiting bullpen this week.

“Maybe I’ll need an umbrella,” Kelly told the Boston Globe. “I hope nothing gets thrown or poured on us.”

Austin cracked a smile hearing when he heard what Kelly said for the first time.

“He’s worried about that?” Austin said. “Nobody’s going to throw anything at him. And I don’t want anything to happen. I don’t want anybody to throw things at a player. That’s how you can get hurt.”

Randy Miller may be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @RandyJMiller. Find NJ.com on Facebook.