Benches clear in Yankees-Orioles after Heston Kjerstad hit by pitch - ESPN

BALTIMORE — The New York Yankees took the opener of their three-game set with AL East-leading Baltimore, beating the Orioles 4-1 in a chaotic matchup Friday night that also featured Aaron Judge's 33rd homer.

Benches and bullpens cleared and there was some pushing and shoving in the bottom of the ninth after Orioles outfielder Heston Kjerstad was hit around the ear flap of his helmet by a Clay Holmes pitch.

With one out, a 97 mph pitch by Holmes hit Kjerstad in the helmet. After a delay, Kjerstad was able to get up but left the game. Then things escalated, with Orioles manager Brandon Hyde walking toward the New York dugout and pointing, at which point Yankees catcher Austin Wells tried to restrain Hyde but benches and bullpens emptied.

Hyde was ejected.

«It's an emotional time… I got my guy who just got hit right in the ear,» Hyde said. «I'm upset 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.»

Gerrit Cole (2-1) pitched six solid innings for the Yankees, who pulled within a game of first place. Baltimore has dropped four in a row.

The teams met for the first time since the Orioles took two of three in New York last month. Since then, the Yankees are 6-13 and Baltimore is 8-12. That has allowed Boston to creep to within 5½ games of the division lead.

«There's been some balls back and forth hitting guys I think throughout the season — playing with the Orioles,» Judge said in an on-field interview after the game. «So, I think the tension just kind of rose there in a situation where they're down in the game, you know getting a little heated.

»But, Clay was able to come in here and shut the door."

Cole allowed a run and five hits, throwing 106 pitches in his