masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgOrioles shortstop Manny Machado charged the mound tonight after being drilled in the back by a 99 mph fastball from Royals starter Yordano Ventura in the bottom of the fifth inning.
This wasn’t a typical baseball scrum.
Machado appeared to land a punch to the side of Ventura’s face as both dugouts and bullpens emptied. Both players were ejected after being pulled apart.
Everyone should have seen it coming.
Machado took exception to an inside pitch from Ventura in his second at-bat in the…

Orioles shortstop Manny Machado charged the mound tonight after being drilled in the back by a 99 mph fastball from Royals starter Yordano Ventura in the bottom of the fifth inning.

This wasn’t a typical baseball scrum.

Machado appeared to land a punch to the side of Ventura’s face as both dugouts and bullpens emptied. Both players were ejected after being pulled apart.

Everyone should have seen it coming.

Manny Machado points white back.jpgMachado took exception to an inside pitch from Ventura in his second at-bat in the second inning. He flied to left field on the next pitch, admiring the ball while walking up the line and then yelling at Ventura.

There were no further incidents until Machado batted again in the fifth after Hyun Soo Kim grounded out. Ventura buried a fastball into Machado’s back on his first pitch. Machado slammed his helmet to the ground and went after Ventura, who dropped his glove and cap.

First base coach Wayne Kirby was tripped as he reached the mound. Plenty of other bodies hit the ground, and the teams ended up on the right side of the infield as order slowly was restored.

Machado and Ventura were the only players ejected. Suspension to follow.

Ventura, who hit two Orioles in a Sept. 12, 2015 start in Baltimore, has been ejected three times in his career. Machado has been tossed four times.

The crowd kept chanting “Manny, Manny, Manny” throughout the fracas and after its conclusion.

Chien-Ming Wang replaced Ventura and Paul Janish pinch-ran for Machado with the Orioles ahead 5-1. Mark Trumbo hit a two-run homer and Chris Davis followed with a solo shot to send the crowd into another frenzy.

Trumbo has four RBIs tonight and 48 on the season to go with 20 home runs. The Orioles have gone back-to-back 10 times this season.

The Orioles already are missing shortstop J.J. Hardy, who remains on the disabled list with a fractured left foot. Now they’ll have to proceed without Machado once the suspension is handed down.

Machado has played in 219 consecutive games, the longest current streak in the majors.

Ubaldo Jimenez has come back out for the sixth inning at 101 pitches.

Update: The Orioles keep getting their revenge at the plate. Adam Jones led off the sixth with a home run to increase the lead to 9-1.

Mychal Givens has thrown two scoreless innings.

Update II: The Orioles win for the sixth time in seven games, defeating the Royals 9-1 before 28,110 at Camden Yards.

Vance Worley also tossed two scoreless innings after replacing Givens.

The Orioles are 34-23, tying their season high of 11 games over .500.