The 9th inning of Friday’s AL East showdown between the New York Yankees and the Baltimore Orioles at Camden Yards descended into chaos after a dramatic and dangerous incident.
With the Yankees leading 4-1 and just two outs away from victory, Orioles outfielder Heston Kjerstad faced Yankees’ All-Star closer Clay Holmes. Falling behind 0-2 in the count, Kjerstad was struck in the head by Holmes’ 97-mph sinker, which dislodged his helmet and sent him to the ground. The injured Kjerstad was promptly replaced by pinch runner Austin Hays.
The tension on the field quickly escalated as members from both teams stormed the field, igniting a brawl. The altercation intensified when Orioles manager Brandon Hyde confronted Yankees catcher Austin Wells near home plate.
The clash saw punches being thrown and staff from both teams getting involved. Amidst the melee, Hyde was ejected from the game.
Despite the uproar, Holmes regained his composure and secured the final two outs, leading the Yankees to a 4-1 victory, bringing them within one game of the Orioles for the AL East division lead.
This incident was part of a tumultuous day for Major League Baseball managers. Earlier, Mets manager Carlos Mendoza was also ejected from his game against the Colorado Rockies, highlighting a day of high emotions and conflict on the field.
