Manny Machado was not happy about being hit by a pitch in the back by Yordano Ventura during the fifth inning Tuesday’s Orioles-Royals game, and he responded by charging the mound.
For some background, Ventura threw inside on Machado during the Orioles third baseman’s at-bat in the second. After flying out that at-bat, Machado stared down Ventura and the two exchanged words.
Then on the first pitch of Machado’s at-bat in the fifth, Ventura nailed him with a 99-mph fastball. Machado did not hesitate in rushing the mound and throwing a punch:
Machado charging the mound on Ventura pic.twitter.com/zE1jmaBgxV
— Michael Gallagher (@MikeSGallagher) June 8, 2016
Benches cleared after Machado charged the mound, but only Machado and Ventura were ejected.
Machado’s machismo also seemed to motivate the O’s, as they went back-to-back on home runs afterwards.
It was Machado’s fourth career ejection, and Ventura’s third.
This sort of thing is nothing new for Ventura, who has had beef with Mike Trout, gotten into a fight with Brett Lawrie, and started a brawl with the White Sox in the past.
