Benches clear in Yankees-Orioles after rookie Heston Kjerstad takes pitch to helmet

The end of Yankees-Orioles got heated, thanks to Brandon Hyde. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)

The Baltimore Orioles and New York Yankees are currently in the most compelling division race in MLB. The drama reached another level on Friday.

Benches cleared in the ninth inning when Orioles rookie Heston Kjerstad took a 96.8 mph sinker to the helmet from Yankees closer Clay Holmes. The Yankees were leading 4-1 at the time.

Orioles manager Brandon Hyde was furious after the pitch and took the field to confront the New York dugout. He was stopped by Yankees catcher Austin Wells, but the benches and bullpens were already emptying.

The ensuing scrum saw plenty of contentious shoving before dissipating.

Hyde was ejected for starting the brawl while Kjerstad was removed from the game, replaced by pinch-runner Austin Hays. The manager told reporters after the game that the behavior of the Yankees coaching staff was what set him off:

“It’s an emotional time at that time. I got my guy who just got hit right in the ear. I’m upset and then I see their dugout. They’re waving at me and yelling at me, so I just didn’t appreciate it at the time.”

Kjerstad was later reported to be in the concussion protocol.

For his part, Yankees manager Aaron Boone said he understood Hyde’s outburst:

“I understand him coming out. Being hot and one of your guys gets hit like that it’s scary, you know? Looked like some things were directed at Clay. I’m not going to get too much into it other than say I’m glad it didn’t get too carried away.”

The Yankees got out the next two batters, Ryan Mountcastle and Cedric Mullins, to end the game for a 4-1 win. They got the victory primarily thanks to a strong start from Cy Young winner Gerrit Cole, who had struggled since returning from an elbow injury but allowed only one earned run in six innings while striking out seven.

Meanwhile, Aaron Judge hit his MLB-leading 33rd home run of the season.

The loss was the Orioles’ fourth straight, and moves the Yankees to only one game behind them for the AL East lead. That means they’ll have to win at least one of their games against New York on Saturday and Sunday to enter the All-Star break with a share of the lead.