Tempers flared between the New York Yankees and Baltimore Orioles in the ninth inning of their game Friday night, leading to a bench-clearing incident that resulted in the ejection of Orioles manager Brandon Hyde.
In a throwback to a rivalry that once simmered with animosity, the New York Yankees and Baltimore Orioles reignited the flames on Friday night with a benches-clearing incident that added another chapter to their storied history.
The incident stemmed from Yankees closer Clay Holmes hitting Orioles outfielder Heston Kjerstad in the head with a 96.8 mph sinker in the bottom of the ninth inning. Kjerstad was immediately attended to by trainers and Hyde, who voiced his displeasure to Holmes and catcher Austin Wells.
Yankees-Orioles Benches Clear in Heated Rivalry Renewal
Third baseman Oswaldo Cabrera and an umpire initially restrained Holmes, but Hyde's anger persisted. As Kjerstad walked to first base, Hyde approached the field and exchanged heated words with Yankees third base coach Luis Rojas, prompting Wells to intervene.
However, Wells' efforts proved futile as both teams converged near home plate, with the bullpens sprinting from the outfield. While there was some pushing and shoving, no punches were thrown, unlike the infamous brawl between the two teams in 1998.
Yankees-Orioles Benches Clear in Heated Rivalry Renewal
Hyde was ultimately ejected for his role in the fracas, while the other players involved remained on the field. Yankees manager Aaron Boone expressed sympathy for Hyde's reaction, recognizing that managers must protect their players.
Hyde, however, claimed that the Yankees bench was "waving" and "yelling" at him, a gesture he found unacceptable. He added that he "heard some stuff" while walking back to the dugout, which triggered his outburst.
Yankees-Orioles Benches Clear in Heated Rivalry Renewal
The incident was the culmination of a season-long trend of hit batters, with the Yankees having hit Orioles batters 10 times compared to just three times for the Orioles. Despite the tension, the Yankees held on for a 4-1 victory, closing the gap in the AL East standings to just two games.
Yankees ace Gerrit Cole had his best outing of the season, tossing six strong innings with just one run allowed. The division race between the two teams appears poised to remain competitive for the rest of the season, promising more fireworks in the weeks to come.
The teams will face off again on Saturday in Baltimore, with emotions likely to be running high after Friday night's events.
