BALTIMORE — The Royals and Baltimore Orioles emptied their benches and bullpens after Kansas City starter Yordano Ventura plunked Manny Machado in the back with a pitch.
The action occurred in the bottom of the fifth with Baltimore leading 5-1. Ventura came close to hitting Machado with a pitch in the second inning, and they exchanged words at the end of the at-bat after Machado flied out.
Ventura opened the fifth-inning at-bat with a fastball that hit Machado, who immediately charged the mound. Ventura prepared for the confrontation by taking off his hat and glove.
Machado arrived and landed a punch before Ventura brought him down with a hard tackle.