Clay Holmes hits Heston Kjerstad, Yankees benches clear vs. Orioles

BALTIMORE – A little bolder by the ninth inning, traveling Yankees fans – outnumbered these days at Camden Yards – were holding sway in the Inner Harbor.

Aaron Judge homered for the first time in 10 days, which seems like a month for the Yankees’ captain.

A more vintage Gerrit Cole became the first Yankees starter since Sunday to make it through at least five innings, and Clay Holmes was on to protect a three-run lead against the first-place Orioles.

In a flash, a budding rivalry reached a boiling point on a rainy Friday night, ignited by Holmes’ dangerous 0-2 pitch to Heston Kjerstad and O’s manager Brandon Hyde’s fiery response.

Holmes’ 97-mph sinker struck Kjerstad square in the helmet with a sickening sound, and soon the benches and bullpens had cleared.

Once things settled down, Holmes closed out a 4-1 Yankees win, sending Baltimore to its fourth straight loss and moving the Yanks within a game of the AL East leaders.

But with two more games to go before the All-Star break, this marquee series has even more attention.

“I would characterize it as good hard baseball,” said Cole, who yielded one run over six innings (106 pitches), the best of his five starts since coming off the injured list (right elbow nerve irritation).

“The intensity level (between both clubs) has been like that the entirety of the year,” said Cole, after the Yanks (57-39) won just their third game against Baltimore (57-37) in eight tries this season. “So, I expect it to stay consistent.”

A heated AL East battle becomes more intense

Yet, it’s fair to wonder what the Orioles’ response could be, and if one of the Yankees’ stars might be on the receiving end of an up-and-in delivery over the next two games.

Friday night’s mixer was slow to develop, with the initial concern over Kjerstad, who eventually walked back to the clubhouse, exiting the game for a pinch-runner.

Things quickly escalated as Hyde pointed toward the Yankees dugout – possibly at Jose Trevino – and made an aggressive move, when he was blocked by Yanks catcher Austin Wells.

Ejected from the game, Hyde said it was an emotional moment and he was provoked by what he saw and heard from the Yankees’ bench.

“I got my guy who just got hit right in the ear. I’m upset,” Hyde told Baltimore reporters. “And then I see their dugout, they’re waving at me and yelling at me, so I just didn’t appreciate it at the time.”

“He was upset, he was protecting his player. He was hot in the moment,” said Wells, on a memorable 25th birthday. “(I was) trying to limit any unnecessary repercussions.”

But a limping Trevino had to be restrained by a Yankees coach as players from both dugouts rushed toward home plate.

Trevino was just replaced, injuring his quad while scoring from second base in the ninth on Juan Soto’s base hit. He’ll be re-evaluated Saturday.

Clay Holmes: “A very competitive atmosphere”

Holmes, who’ll soon be sharing an All-Star Game clubhouse with seven Orioles, said he was “trying to throw a front door sinker’’ and he “just kind of pulled it…and it ran up and in on him.’’

Holmes mentioned the rain as a factor, saying “conditions weren’t great,’’ and “I’m out there trying to win the game, not trying to go at anybody or whatnot.’’

A moment after the incident, Holmes moved toward Kjerstad apologetically, but he was blocked by second base umpire Emil Jimenez.

“I was just trying to tell Heston that I wasn’t trying to do it, hope he’s all right,’’ said Holmes. “I saw Hyde kind of mouthing some stuff, I guess some people didn’t like that and things got heated.

“It’s just part of baseball where that happens,’’ said Holmes, who “couldn’t even really tell’’ what Hyde said, though his emotions were certainly justified.

“It’s the top two teams in the division. I think there’s a very competitive atmosphere to this,’’ said Holmes.

“We know these games mean something and we’re here to show up,’’ said Holmes. “Two teams battling it out like that, you’re going to fee…the competitive energy and that’s the case in this series.’’

Aaron Judge’s take on the Yanks-O’s melee

Yankees manager Aaron Boone was “glad it didn’t escalate too much,’’ understanding Hyde’s “being hot’’ and hoping there’s no carryover.

“It’s a scary moment…you never like seeing that,’’ said Judge, regardless of which dugout you reside.

But there’s “been some chirping back and forth’’ with the Orioles, with each team being upset at inside pitches and “it kind of boiled over there.’’

As for a possible Part II to this episode, Judge was diplomatic.

“These are two good ballclubs (with) two important games coming up,’’ said the Yankees captain, and “we’ve got some business to take care of’’ on the field.