Ventura says pitch that hit Machado 'got away'

If Yordano Ventura is to be believed, the fateful pitch that ignited Tuesday's brawl was one that simply missed.

The Kansas City Royals right-hander was ejected, along with Baltimore Orioles third baseman Manny Machado, after plunking him with a 99-mph fastball in the fifth inning. Machado immediately charged the mound and punched Ventura, setting off a bench-clearing brawl.

After the game, Ventura placed the blame for the shenanigans squarely on Machado's shoulders, and said he was just trying to pitch a dangerous hitter inside.

''Everybody knows what kind of player he is,'' Ventura told reporters through an interpreter. ''One just got away and he came at me, and I have to defend myself at that point.''

The 25-year-old also believes he doesn't deserve a suspension for what he says was simply defending himself.

''I don't think that should be in order,'' Ventura said of the possibility of discipline from the league.

Related - Machado: 'I don't regret' punching Ventura

The feud may have been simmering from the beginning of Tuesday's contest. In his last at-bat before the brawl, Machado exchanged words with the pitcher after he admired his long fly-ball out, which came on the heels of several inside pitches from Ventura.

Royals manager Ned Yost believed Ventura's explanation, telling reporters it "looked to me like it got away from him."

Yost has other things to worry about with his club besides Ventura and possible suspensions, though. The banged-up defending champions have now lost six straight contests, and the brouhaha in Baltimore may have brought the Royals' increasingly frustrating season to a full boil.

"I'm sure (there are frustrations)," Yost said. "Nobody likes that stuff to happen."