BALTIMORE—A backup catcher who started the day celebrating his 25th birthday and ended it with the intention of dousing, not lighting, any fireworks, stopped Brandon Hyde, the former minor-league catcher turned manager, as he was charging toward the New York Yankees dugout, digging in his heels for more leverage, driving his legs.
Later on Friday night, with the chaos surrounding the Yankees’ 4-1 victory against the Baltimore Orioles safely in the past, Austin Wells would remark, “I thought it was a cool birthday.” “I was attempting to minimize the harm.” That’s a fitting reaction to both the scuffle that broke out between the benches and sent the ninth inning sideways, as well as to a Yankees squad that makes its fans fearful.
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When they arrived at Camden Yards hoping to cut into Baltimore’s two-game lead in the American League East before the teams go for the All-Star break on Sunday, they had lost or split their previous eight series dating back to mid-June.
They halved that deficit Friday, and inadvertently tossed kerosene on what’s turning into an epic on-field rivalry and a spicy one off it.
“The intensity level has pretty much been at that for the entirety of the year,” said Yankees ace Gerrit Cole, the winning pitcher Friday.
“So, I expect it to stay consistent.”
