BALTIMORE — The benches cleared in the bottom of the ninth of the Yankees’ 4-1 win over the Orioles Friday night at Camden Yards.

The teams built some drama during their previous series in The Bronx, with the Yankees unhappy with what they felt were too many high and tight pitches by Baltimore’s pitches.

Tensions boiled over Friday night in the series opener at Camden Yards when Clay Holmes, in the game with a 4-1 lead in the bottom of the ninth, drilled Heston Kjerstad in the head with one out.

Benches cleared during the Yankees’ 4-1 win over the Orioles on July 12, 2024.AP

After Kjerstad remained on the ground and was tended to by trainers, he got up to go to first, but Baltimore manager Brandon Hyde appeared to say something from home plate to Holmes, who responded angrily.

As Kjerstad walked to first, the dugouts emptied, with a furious Hyde charging towards the Yankee dugout, perhaps at assistant hitting coach Casey Dykes, who was the first person out of the dugout.

Hyde was held back by Yankee catcher Austin Wells, but ended up being ejected.

Heston Kjerstad is hit in the head by a pitch during the Orioles’ loss to the Yankees on July 12, 2024.Screengrab

Catcher Austin Wells (L.) holds back Orioles manager Brandon Hyde during the Yankees’ win over the Orioles on July 12, 2024.

Heston Kjerstad (L.) was hit in the head by a pitch during the Orioles’ loss to the Yankees on July 12, 2024.AP

No punches were thrown and both sides went back to their respective dugouts, with Holmes still trying to close out the game.

Austin Hays replaced the woozy Kjerstad as the baserunner at first base.

Source : nypost.com