Sox-Yankees rivalry led to attack, police say

Monte Freire, 43, of Nashua remains in critical condition after John Mayor, 45, of New Haven allegedly stabbed him with a knife at the Chowder Pot Restaurant around 10:45 p.m., according to a news release from the Branford Police Department.

“Unfortunately, witnesses were telling us the disturbances emanated from a dispute over certainly that: the Yankees and Red Sox,’’ Captain Geoffrey Morgan said in a phone interview.

Freire and his friends were in the Branford area for the weekend because they were attending a baseball tournament, according to police.

Mayor tried to flee the scene, but an officer arrested him in the rear of the parking area, according to police.

“Mayor turned, looked at the officer, removed the knife from his jacket, and threw it into the woods,’’ Sergeant David Galdenzi said in the statement. “He then began to fight with friends of the victim before he was taken into custody by the officer with the assistance of the friends.’’

Police searched the wooded area and retrieved the knife, authorities said.

Mayor was also brought to the hospital for injuries suffered during the altercation, Morgan said.

Mayor is facing several charges, including assault in the first degree. In addition, he is being held on a $500,000 bond. His arraignment is set for today, pending his release from the hospital.