An old AL East rivalry reignited in fiery fashion Friday night as the benches cleared between the Yankees and Orioles during a tense bottom of the ninth inning.
The drama began when Yankees closer Clay Holmes delivered a 96.8 mph sinker that failed to sink, hitting Heston Kjerstad in the head on an 0-2 pitch. Orioles manager Brandon Hyde and trainers rushed to Kjerstad’s aid. The intense moment left Hyde incensed, and he exchanged fiery words with Holmes and Yankees catcher Austin Wells.
Benches clear in Baltimore after Clay Holmes hits Heston Kjerstad in the head. pic.twitter.com/R4VDk2pnqC
— Nelson Dorsey (@TheBirdlandBeat) July 13, 2024
Yankees third baseman Oswaldo Cabrera and an umpire intervened, holding Holmes back. But the tension only escalated. After Kjerstad reached first base (and was subsequently pinch-ran for), Hyde, still seething, marched back toward the field, shouting towards the Yankees dugout. His target appeared to be third base coach Luis Rojas, who snapped right back at him.
Despite Wells’ efforts to hold Hyde back, both teams converged near home plate, with bullpens sprinting from the outfield. Light pushing and shoving ensued, but no punches were thrown, and only Hyde was ejected from the game.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone empathized with Hyde’s anger, acknowledging that Hyde was right to defend his players. Hyde, however, accused the Yankees bench of “waving” and “yelling” at him, which he did not appreciate. He mentioned hearing provocative remarks as he walked back to the dugout, which triggered his reaction. Hyde added that Kjerstad was undergoing tests, expressing hope for a positive outcome.
Clay Holmes hits Heston Kjerstad right in the head scary play #RepBX #Yankees #BirdLand pic.twitter.com/Cc3d5FnAvc
— Lucasparmenter23 (@Lucasparmenter0) July 13, 2024
The rivalry has been simmering all season, with Yankees pitchers hitting Orioles batters 10 times, compared to just three by Orioles pitchers. This latest incident only added fuel to the fire.
Despite the chaos, the Yankees clinched a crucial 4-1 victory, narrowing their division lead deficit to two games. The Orioles now stand at 3-5 against the Yankees this season. Reigning Cy Young Award winner Gerrit Cole delivered a stellar performance, pitching six strong innings, allowing one run on five hits, and striking out seven.
Yankees and Orioles hand a bench-clearing brawl Friday night at Camden Yards after Yankees pitcher Clay Holmes drilled Orioles batter Heston Kjerstad in the head with a 96.9 MPH sinker during the bottom of the 9th.
Kjerstad had to be taken out as he was woozy after the hit. pic.twitter.com/xwWT8zY1od
— Paul A. Szypula 🇺🇸 (@Bubblebathgirl) July 13, 2024
As the division race intensifies, Friday night’s confrontation hints at a thrilling remainder of the season. The Yankees and Orioles will face off again at 4 p.m. on Saturday, promising more fireworks.
Major Points
- Yankees closer Clay Holmes hit Heston Kjerstad in the head with a 96.8 mph sinker, sparking heated exchanges and bench-clearing scenes.
- Orioles manager Brandon Hyde and Yankees third base coach Luis Rojas exchanged fiery words, escalating tensions.
- Despite the chaos, no punches were thrown, and only Hyde was ejected.
- Yankees manager Aaron Boone understood Hyde’s anger, while Hyde accused the Yankees bench of provoking him.
- The Yankees secured a 4-1 win, with Gerrit Cole delivering his best performance of the season, and the division race heats up.
Charles William III – Reprinted with permission of Whatfinger News
