Tempers flared a bit between the Oakland Athletics and Toronto Blue Jays during Sunday’s game for a very strange reason.
After the Blue Jays took a 6-3 lead in the 10th inning against Oakland, Davis Schneider hit a popup into the huge amount of foul territory on the first base side of the Oakland Coliseum. A’s first baseman Tyler Soderstrom was in pursuit, but was prevented from making the catch when he collided with Blue Jays pitcher Yusei Kikuchi, who had been minding his own business near the Toronto dugout.
Yusei Kikuchi running some interference. pic.twitter.com/WQsBcHj6vA
— Ryley Delaney (@Ryley_L_D) June 9, 2024
After huddling, the umpires ultimately called Schneider out on interference. However, as the call was being discussed, a number of Blue Jays players got on the top step of the dugout and started yelling across the field at Oakland players. It was not clear who started it or what the issue was, but it was pretty obvious there was some heated dialogue taking place.
Tempers flared after Tyler Soderstrom collided with a member of the Blue Jays near the visitor's dugout 👀 pic.twitter.com/hfplwA3m9G
— A's on NBCS (@NBCSAthletics) June 9, 2024
Something like this could only happen in Oakland. The dugouts there do not have the protective fencing that is in place everywhere else, meaning players just lounge around near and on the steps during play. Kikuchi, a starting pitcher who was not on duty Sunday, did not appear to be trying to disrupt Soderstrom, but simply noticed too late that he was going to be in the way.
Ultimately, the right call was made, and the Blue Jays wound up winning. This, along with other incidents, shows why few will miss playing at the Coliseum when the A’s leave, though.
