BALTIMORE — For over three weeks now, the Baltimore Orioles and New York Yankees have been in sort of a joint slump — not enough to knock them out of the top two spots in the AL East, but frustrating nonetheless.
When they met for one more intense series heading into the All-Star break, emotions eventually exploded.
Orioles outfielder Heston Kjerstad was hit in the helmet by a 97 mph pitch from Yankees closer Clay Holmes, and the benches emptied in the bottom of the ninth inning of New York’s 4-1 victory Friday night.
“There was just some chirping back and forth,” Yankees slugger Aaron Judge said. “I know we’ve gotten quite a few of their guys with hit by pitches. They’ve gotten us. Kind of boiled over there.”
