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Join Telegram ChannelAn old AL East rivalry was rekindled Friday night as benches emptied between the Yankees and Orioles in the bottom of the ninth inning.
Yankees closer Clay Holmes hit Heston Kjerstad in the head with a 96.8 mph sinker, which didn't sink much, on an 0-2 pitch in the bottom of the ninth inning.
Kjerstad was quickly attended to by the trainers and his manager, Brandon Hyde, but, given the scary situation, Hyde was red-hot and had a few words with Holmes and receiver Austin Wells.
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The benches are empty after Heston Kjerstad #13 of the Baltimore Orioles is hit by a pitch in the ninth inning during a baseball game against the New York Yankees at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on July 12, 2024, in Baltimore, Maryland. (Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
Third baseman Oswaldo Cabrera and an umpire restrained Holmes before anything could happen, but only temporarily.
After Kjerstad reached first base (he was replaced by a backup runner), Hyde returned to the field and yelled toward the Yankees' dugout—it appeared he was yelling at third base coach Luis Rojas, who yelled back immediately.
Wells did his best to hold Hyde off, but he couldn't do much as the two teams met just short of home plate and the bullpens came sprinting in from the outfield.
Heston Kjerstad #13 of the Baltimore Orioles lies on the ground after being hit by a pitch in the ninth inning during a baseball game against the New York Yankees at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on July 12, 2024, in Baltimore, Maryland. (Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
There was some light shoving, but no players were sent off (apart from Hyde), and no punches were thrown – so it wasn't quite their 1998 brawl.
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Yankees manager Aaron Boone said he understood why Hyde was upset, noting that Hyde should support his players. Hyde, however, said the Yankees bench was “waving” and “yelling” at him, which he “didn't appreciate.”
Hyde said he “heard things” as he was returning to the shelter that prompted his reaction.
He added that Hjerstad was undergoing tests. “We hope for the best,” he said.
It's been brewing for a while, though: The Yankees have hit Orioles batters 10 times this season, while the O's have done so just three times.
The Yankees, who have the worst record in MLB since June 13, held on for the much-needed 4-1 victory, cutting their division lead deficit to just two games – the O's are now 3-5 against the Yanks this season.
Reigning Cy Young Award winner Gerrit Cole got off to his best start of the season, pitching six solid innings with one run, five hits and seven strikeouts.
Catcher Austin Wells #28 of the New York Yankees holds off Brandon Hyde #18 of the Baltimore Orioles after a bench clearing in the ninth inning during a baseball game between the New York Yankees and the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on July 12, 2024, in Baltimore, Maryland. (Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
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The division race appears to be between these two teams for the remainder of the season, and judging by Friday night, the rest of the way is shaping up to be a fun one.
They will be back in action at 4pm on Saturday.
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