BALTIMORE -- A hit-by-pitch in the bottom of the seventh inning at Camden Yards on Sunday afternoon led to some heated exchanges between the Royals and Orioles.
Baltimore third baseman Blaze Alexander was hit in the left hand by a 95.5 mph four-seam fastball from Kansas City right-hander Lucas Erceg. Alexander was visibly not pleased, and as he started to make his way down the first-base line, the 27-year-old was talking to Erceg. The hit-by-pitch came after Erceg had allowed a home run to the previous batter, Samuel Basallo.
From there, things escalated. Both benches cleared, while Alexander continued to voice his displeasure. He was held back by O’s manager Craig Albernaz, and then bench coach Donnie Ecker escorted Alexander to the team’s first-base dugout.
Alexander was replaced at first base by pinch-runner Coby Mayo. The Orioles later announced that Alexander suffered a non-displaced fracture in his left hand.
The bullpens emptied as well, but by the time the relievers reached the infield, the situation had dissipated. Nobody was ejected following the dust-up.