Orioles’ Manny Machado Charges Mound, Punches Royals’ Yordano Ventura And Starts Brawl

Baltimore Orioles shortstop and third baseman Manny Machado and Kansas City Royals right-hander Yordano Ventura were both ejected Tuesday night following a bench-clearing brawl that began after Ventura threw at Machado.

Orioles’ Manny Machado Charges Mound, Punches Yordano Ventura

With one out in the bottom of the fifth inning and the Orioles up 5-1, Ventura’s first pitch to Machado– a 99 mph fastball– struck the 23-year-old Baltimore slugger in the back. Machado immediately responded by charging the mound and throwing a punch at Ventura, 25, who threw off his hat to prepare for the confrontation just like his opponent.

Before the two young Dominicans even hit the ground to wrestle, players on the field and on both benches had already begun rushing over to the fight. Even the catcher and umpire got involved, and seemed to attempt to restrain Machado.

While the crowd at Oriole Park chanted “Man-ny, Man-ny,” the all-out melee began, although Machado was eventually restrained by his teammate, starting pitcher Chris Tillman. 

The Orioles extended the Royals’ losing streak to a season-high six games with a 9-1 victory on Tuesday night. Following the game, Ventura insisted the bad throw was unintentional and suggested Machado has a reputation as a hot head.

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

In the second inning, while Baltimore led 5-0, the two briefly exchanged words after Ventura twice threw inside pitches.

Thus, before Machado stepped up to the plate in the fifth, he received a warning from manager Buck Showalter. 

“I thought he was trying to hit him the at-bat before,” Showalter stated. “That’s why I talked to him before he took his last at-bat. I wanted him to be aware of it.”

Evidently, Machado decided to do what he wanted in the end and took his revenge.

“I don’t regret anything,” the two-time All-Star said. “When somebody’s throwing 99 at you, it’s going to hurt. You can ruin someone’s career. You don’t think in that situation. You just react to it.”

The Dominican-American and Ventura will both likely receive suspensions.

“I don’t think that should be in order,” Ventura said.

Still, Machado said: “You got to deal with the consequences once you cross that line.”

Mark Trumbo homered and drove in four runs, and the Orioles also got long balls from Ryan Flaherty, Chris Davis and Adam Jones. Trumbo’s homer, his major league-leading 20th, came off reliever Chien-Ming Wang when played resumed after the brawl. Davis followed with a solo shot.

Ubaldo Jimenez (3-6) gave up one run and nine hits over five-plus innings to end a three-game skid. Baltimore has now won six of seven.

The Royals stranded 13 and went 1 for 14 with runners in scoring position. Ventura’s actions in the fifth were a clear indication of the defending World Series champions’ frustration with their losing streak.

“There’s a little frustration when things like this happen,” Royals manager Ned Yost acknowledged.

In the bottom of the first, the Orioles took a 4-0 lead with only one out after four straight hits.

Flaherty led off the second with his first home run of the season, a drive that traveled an estimated 446 feet before landing on Eutaw Street beyond the right-field wall.

The two teams will play the finale of their three-game series Wednesday night in Baltimore.

PHOTO: BALTIMORE, MD – JUNE 07: Manny Machado #13 of the Baltimore Orioles and Yordano Ventura #30 of the Kansas City Royals fight in the fifth inning during a MLB baseball game at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on June 7, 2016 in Baltimore, Maryland. Machado and Ventura were ejected from the game. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)

Article by Pablo Mena