The problem here is, the Russians like to press the envolope from time to time. The line of Deescalation is there to prevent this. But the Russians will cross it. Part of it is to gain information on the US and the other part is, they have always done this stupidity.
I agree that the wrong bird was used by the US for intercept. The F-15 should have been the one used. The Rules of engagement works better if you are bristling with missiles in plain site. Can a SU-35 out manuever a F-15? That was once said about the Mig-29 but that was proven in combat as false more than once.
Mig-29 can even out maneuver F-16 and an F-15 has the mass of two F-16.
It´s always the same blame game. In the end, Russia has been invited to Syria and Russian planes fly there legally.
Part of the F-15 record shows that:
One Mig-29 must have had a really good pilot. He got inside a F-15C to start. The turning and jinxing began. In the end, the F-15 bagged him close up with an Aim-9. The F-15 credited the kill
Another Mig-29 ended up with a F-15 on his read. The Mig-29 turned and jinxed hard. Meanwhile, the F-15 stayed with him. In the end, it kept getting lower and lower until the Mig-29 ate the grass. No kill on that one.
Both of these were Iraqi Pilots and were hotter than a fire cracker. Just not as good as the USAF pilots. One got to punch out and the other buried himself still in his seat. That has been the only time that the Mig-29 got that close to any F-15 in combat. 115-0 says it all.