MLB: Bench-clearing fray mars Orioles’ 9-1 win over skidding KC

Associated Press

BALTIMORE — Manny Machado had no intention of taking a 99 mph fastball in the back without retaliating.

So when the inevitable occurred, the Orioles young infielder charged the mound with his fists clenched.

Kansas City right-hander Yordano Ventura hit Machado with a pitch to spark a bench-emptying fray, and Baltimore extended the Royals’ losing streak to a season-high six games with a 9-1 rout Tuesday night.

Mark Trumbo homered and drove in four runs, and the Orioles also got long balls from Ryan Flaherty, Chris Davis and Adam Jones.

But the game’s most striking moment came in the fifth inning, when Ventura (4-4) drilled Machado just under his No. 13 as the two-time All-Star turned away. In the second inning, with Baltimore leading 5-0, the two exchanged words after Ventura twice threw inside pitches.

So before Machado headed to the plate in the fifth, he got a word of warning from manager Buck Showalter.

“I thought he was trying to hit him the at-bat before,” Showalter said. “That’s why I talked to him before he took his last at-bat. I wanted him to be aware of it.”

An instant after the ball hit him, Machado charged the mound. Ventura prepared for the onslaught by slinging aside his cap and glove, but Machado landed a solid punch before the pitcher tackled him.

“I don’t regret anything,” the 23-year-old Machado said. “When somebody’s throwing 99 at you, it’s going to hurt. You can ruin someone’s career. You don’t think in that situation. You just react to it.”

Both dugouts and bullpens emptied before peace was restored. Machado was restrained by teammate Chris Tillman after the initial thrust.

Ventura insisted the errant throw was unintentional and implied that Machado has a reputation as a hot head.

“Everybody knows what kind of player he is,” Ventura said through an interpreter. “One just got away and he came at me, and I have to defend myself at that point.”

Machado and Ventura were ejected with the score 5-1. It is likely both will ultimately receive suspensions.

“I don’t think that should be in order,” Ventura insisted.

Machado said, “You got to deal with the consequences once you cross that line.”

When play resumed, Trumbo greeted reliever Chien-Ming Wang with his major league-leading 20th home run, and Davis followed with a solo shot.

Ubaldo Jimenez (3-6) gave up one run and nine hits over five-plus innings to end a three-game skid.

Baltimore has won six of seven. This was the only victory in that stretch in which the Orioles never trailed.

The Royals stranded 13 and went 1 for 14 with runners in scoring position. It’s been a difficult losing streak for the defending World Series champions, and Ventura made that apparent with his actions in the fifth inning.

“There’s a little frustration when things like this happen,” manager Ned Yost acknowledged.

RED SOX 5, GIANTS 3, 10 INN.

SAN FRANCISCO — Xander Bogaerts hit a go-ahead, two-run single in the top of the 10th, and Boston snapped San Francisco’s five-game home winning streak.

The Red Sox loaded the bases against Santiago Casilla (1-1), who struck out two in a perfect ninth before running into trouble. Bogaerts also had a third-inning RBI single in Boston’s first visit to San Francisco in nearly three years.

Dustin Pedroia extended his majors-best hitting streak to 14 games with an eighth-inning single, while David Ortiz’s streak ended at 13 after his tying groundout as a pinch-hitter in the seventh. Pedroia also has hit in 11 straight road games.

Junichi Tazawa (1-1) pitched the ninth for the win and Craig Kimbrel closed it out for his 14th save.

DODGERS 4, ROCKIES 3

LOS ANGELES — Trayce Thompson hit a game-ending homer in the ninth inning to give Los Angeles a win over Colorado in the home debut for teenage prospect Julio Urias.

The 19-year-old Urias struck out seven over four innings. The Mexican left-hander allowed three hits and one run and was removed after 86 pitches with his workload being strictly monitored in just his third career start.

It was by far his best so far in the majors.

Kenley Jansen (2-1) got the win after pitching a scoreless ninth.

Thompson hit a two-out blast in the ninth off Carlos Estevez (1-3) to give the Dodgers the win.

TIGERS 3, BLUE JAYS 2, 10 INN.

DETROIT — Ian Kinsler drove in the winning run with a 10th-inning single, and Detroit won its fifth straight game, 3-2 over Toronto.

The Tigers tied it with two runs in the ninth, spoiling an outstanding effort by Blue Jays starter Aaron Sanchez. The right-hander struck out a career-high 12 and took a one-hitter into the ninth inning, but he didn’t get another out as Detroit rallied.

REDS 7, CARDINALS 6

CINCINNATI — Joey Votto homered with one out in the bottom of the ninth inning, powering Cincinnati over St. Louis after it blew a five-run lead for the second straight day.

Votto connected off left-hander Kevin Siegrist (4-1) for his fifth career game-ending homer and Cincinnati’s third homer of the game.

BREWERS 5, ATHLETICS 4

MILWAUKEE — Zach Davies took a no-hitter into the seventh before allowing a two-out home run to Oakland’s Billy Butler, and Milwaukee withstood a shaky ninth inning to hold on for a win.

Davies (4-3) allowed two hits and three walks over seven innings while striking out five. Butler turned on an 0-1 fastball from Davies to end the shutout.

PIRATES 3, METS 1, GAME 1

PIRATES 3, METS 1, GAME 2

PITTSBURGH — Juan Nicasio retired his first 12 batters and got his second win in six starts, and Pittsburgh beat New York to complete a doubleheader sweep.

The Pirates also won the first game 3-1 behind seven scoreless innings from Jon Niese (6-2) against his former team. Josh Harrison had three hits and Jordy Mercer hit his first home run at PNC Park since Aug. 31, 2014 in the first victory.

Nicasio (5-4) allowed a run on three hits and two walks over five innings. He had gone 1-2 with a 6.23 ERA in his previous five starts, and manager Clint Hurdle acknowledged last week that he was considering moving the right-hander to the bullpen.

Jacob deGrom (3-2) is winless in his last seven starts after he allowed three runs in six innings with nine strikeouts and no walks. He has not won since April 30 against San Francisco despite allowing three earned runs or fewer six times.

The Pirates snapped left-hander Steven Matz’s (7-2) seven-game winning streak in the first game.

RANGERS 4, ASTROS 3

ARLINGTON, Texas — Ian Desmond hit a tiebreaking two-run homer in the eighth inning and Texas extended its dominance of Houston with its season-high fifth straight win overall.

MARINERS 7, INDIANS 1

SEATTLE — Nelson Cruz homered twice and Wade Miley pitched seven scoreless innings to pace Seattle over Cleveland, snapping the Indians’ six-game winning streak.

Cruz hit a two-run homer in the first inning off starter Cody Anderson (1-4) and added a solo shot in the fifth, his 15th, to put Seattle up 7-0.

YANKEES 6, ANGELS 3

NEW YORK — Carlos Beltran and Starlin Castro homered for the second consecutive game, sending a resurgent Michael Pineda and New York past Los Angeles.

Pineda (3-6) threw 22 of 27 first-pitch strikes and tossed seven efficient innings in his longest start since July 4 last year at Tampa Bay.

≈He gave up three runs and four hits, building on a solid performance last week in Detroit after struggling for much of the season.

PHILLIES 3, CUBS 2

PHILADELPHIA — Jerad Eickhoff threw seven impressive innings, Ryan Howard hit a solo homer and Philadelphia beat Chicago.

Eickhoff (3-8) allowed one run and two hits, striking out eight. Jeanmar Gomez pitched out of a bases-loaded jam in the eighth and got the final six outs for his 19th save in 20 tries.

Kyle Hendricks (4-5) gave up two runs and four hits, striking out six in five innings.

NATIONALS 10, WHITE SOX 5

CHICAGO — Bryce Harper drove in three runs, Anthony Rendon homered and Washington handed Chicago its 19th loss in 25 games.

Rendon hit a two-run homer off Mat Latos (6-2). Michael Taylor added a two-run double and reliever Blake Treinen (4-1) pitched two-hit ball over three scoreless innings after a shaky start by Joe Ross.

TWINS 6, MARLINS 4

MINNEAPOLIS — Brian Dozier’s two-out, two-run home run in the 11th inning gave Minnesota a 6-4 victory over Miami, the third game-ending homer in Dozier’s career and just the second win for the Twins in their last eight games.

DIAMONDBACKS 5, RAYS 0

PHOENIX — Zack Greinke threw a three-hitter and Arizona beat Tampa Bay.

Greinke (8-3) struck out two and walked two in his fifth career shutout and first since July 13, 2013, against Colorado at Dodger Stadium.

PADRES 4, BRAVES 3

SAN DIEGO — Derek Norris tied the game with a home run leading off the ninth and Wil Myers singled in the winning run to give San Diego a victory against Atlanta.

Norris hit the second pitch from Arodys Vizcaino (1-1) over the fence in left-center, his seventh.

Matt Thornton (1-0) pitched a perfect ninth for the win.