Blue Jays' Manoah tossed for HBP after benches clear in Baltimore
Tempers flared between the Toronto Blue Jays and Baltimore Orioles at Camden Yards on Saturday, leading to both benches clearing and one ejection.
The action began in the bottom of the fourth when Blue Jays starter Alek Manoah surrendered back-to-back homers to Baltimore's Ryan Mountcastle and DJ Stewart.
Back-to-back baseballs ejected from Camden Yards. pic.twitter.com/ovxK8maErb
— Baltimore Orioles (@Orioles) June 19, 2021
Manoah's next pitch hit Maikel Franco. Franco took steps toward the mound while Manoah walked in shouting back, leading to both teams' benches and bullpens emptying. While no punches were thrown, Baltimore manager Brandon Hyde looked livid and apparently exchanged words with his counterpart, Charlie Montoyo. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. also had to hold back Orioles shortstop Freddy Galvis.
Alek Manoah has been tossed from today's game after hitting an Orioles batter, causing the benches to clear. #BlueJaysOnSN. . pic.twitter.com/XsX1gjiU2S
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) June 19, 2021
Umpires conferred after the brief melee ended and booted Manoah, while Franco remained in the game. Manoah pleaded with umps to reverse the decision and maintained postgame that his fastball slipped.
"As I was walking towards him, I was kind of trying to figure out what was going on."
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) June 20, 2021
Alek Manoah explains what happened after he hit Maikel Franco with pitch. pic.twitter.com/rc5GlzwjBw
However, the Orioles weren't buying the rookie hurler's explanation. Hyde said he believed the hit-by-pitch was intentional, while Mountcastle deemed it a "red flag" about Manoah, according to Joe Trezza of MLB.com.
Anthony Kay replaced Manoah on the mound with the Orioles leading Toronto 5-2. The Blue Jays won the game 10-7.