Yankees-Orioles game features no residual effects from Friday's bench-clearing incident
Players clear the benches after the Orioles' Heston Kjerstad was hit by a pitch from Yankees relief pitcher Clay Holmes during the ninth inning of a game Friday in Baltimore. Credit: AP/Stephanie Scarbrough
BALTIMORE — Brandon Hyde stormed toward the Yankees' dugout Friday night after one of his players, Heston Kjerstad, was hit in the right earflap by Clay Holmes' 97-mph sinker in the ninth inning, touching off a benches-clearing fracas.
The Baltimore manager — a grinder in his coaching career who held on to his job through some lean years during the Orioles’ multiyear rebuild that paid off last season with 101 wins and the AL East crown — generally is well-liked and respected across the league by players, and that includes by more than a few Yankees.
Only 25¢ for 5 months
BALTIMORE — Brandon Hyde stormed toward the Yankees' dugout Friday night after one of his players, Heston Kjerstad, was hit in the right earflap by Clay Holmes' 97-mph sinker in the ninth inning, touching off a benches-clearing fracas.
The Baltimore manager — a grinder in his coaching career who held on to his job through some lean years during the Orioles’ multiyear rebuild that paid off last season with 101 wins and the AL East crown — generally is well-liked and respected across the league by players, and that includes by more than a few Yankees.
After Friday’s game, Hyde said he didn’t “appreciate” some of the comments and gestures directed toward him from the Yankees’ dugout after the hit-by-pitch (he didn’t mention any names, but multiple Orioles said Yankees assistant hitting coach Casey Dykes was high on the list).
No one with the Yankees denied yelling at Hyde but said there was a specific reason: Collectively, they didn’t appreciate Hyde screaming at Holmes multiple times after the 0-and-2 hit by pitch.
“You don’t get to do that,” one player said of an opposing manager repeatedly cursing out a teammate, adding the dugout is always going to respond in such cases.
As multiple Yankees did Friday night — including Gerrit Cole and Aaron Judge — the player stressed that the team understood Hyde’s anger upon seeing one of his players get drilled in the head.
“Their guy got hit in the head. Understandable that Brandon’s [angry] and he’s defending his players,” Cole said.
Not surprisingly, in the Yankees' 6-1 victory over the Orioles on Saturday afternoon, there were no residuals from the fireworks of the previous night.
“We’re playing for a lot,” Aaron Boone said, referencing the first-place battle between the AL East’s top two teams.
Late Friday night, Boone reached out to Hyde to inquire about Kjerstad’s condition and the two ended up speaking.
“Fine,” Boone said of the conversation, without elaboration.
Kjerstad initially was in the Orioles’ lineup Saturday but was a late scratch as he didn’t quite feel 100% during pregame preparation. In the early afternoon, the rookie was placed on the seven-day concussion injured list.
Trevino to IL
Yankees catcher Jose Trevino was placed on the IL Saturday with a left quadriceps strain suffered while sliding into home plate on Friday night. Carlos Narvaez, a defense-first catcher, was recalled from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre to take his place. Boone said he did not know the severity of Trevino’s injury but, based on how Trevino was moving late Friday night, it could be a while before he returns.
“He’s on his way back to New York,” Boone said. “He’s getting tests later this afternoon.”
Rookie Ben Rice, drafted as a catcher but who has been transitioning to first base, including in the big leagues with the Yankees, is not currently an option behind the plate. Rice has never impressed rival scouts with his defense, which is something Narvaez is known for.
Rookie Austin Wells already had started to supplant Trevino, whom teams had begun running on at will, as the primary catcher. Wells hit a three-run homer with two outs in the first inning that gave the Yankees a 4-0 lead on Saturday.