Brandon Hyde didn’t like what he was hearing coming out of the Yankees dugout and was furious when he saw Clay Holmes’ sinker hit one of his players’ helmets.
The Orioles manager, who was the only one ejected after the Orioles and Yankees benches emptied, began yelling in anger toward the Bombers bench after outfielder Heston Kierstad was hit by a 96.8 mph sinker with one out in the bottom of the ninth inning at Camden Yards on Friday night.
“When I walked home, [their] “I knew they were pointing at me, and that’s why I reacted the way I did,” Hyde said. [I was] They respond to what the coach says.”
The benches appeared to clear as Hyde appeared to say something to Holmes from home plate and Holmes responded angrily.
As Kjellstad headed for first base and the dugout emptied, Hyde charged angrily into the Yankees dugout, presumably toward assistant hitting coach Casey Dykes, who was the first to take the field from the Yankees’ side.
“I got emotional at the time,” Hyde said. “My player got hit in the ear. I was upset, but I saw them on the other team’s bench waving and yelling at me. I wasn’t happy about it at the time.”
Yankees catcher Austin Wells had to restrain Hyde, and no punches were fired during the incident.
“I saw Hyde say something,” Holmes said, though he didn’t know what Hyde actually said. “I think it didn’t sit well with some people and that’s when things got heated.”
The incident was an explosion of tensions stemming from a June series between the two American League rivals in the Bronx, in which the Yankees were upset by the number of high, tight pitches by the Orioles.
The Yankees won the key game, 4-1, to move to within one game of the Orioles in the American League East.
“Two good teams playing against each other,” said Yankees starting pitcher Gerrit Cole, who was in the middle of the game. “They’re both pitching inside. Hey, the outfield’s really wet tonight. Clay threw the next pitch, his first pitch to Ryan. [O’Hearn]”Ryan almost dropped the bat and wiped his hands on his pants to get a grip on the bat. We all know it was tough to get a grip on the ball tonight. That being said, he got hit in the head, so I have no reason for Brandon to be upset. He’s protecting his guys.”
