TORONTO (AP) - New York Yankees right-hander Luis Severino was ejected after hitting Toronto’s Justin Smoak with a pitch in the second inning Monday night, leading to an angry shoving match between the teams.
Both benches and bullpens emptied and several scrums broke out near home plate after Severino threw inside to Smoak with his first pitch of the inning and then hit him in the leg with his second.
There was plenty of jostling in a large mass of players, but it did not appear any punches were thrown.
The scrap came after Blue Jays lefty J.A. Happ threw consecutive inside pitches to Chase Headley in the top of the inning, hitting him with the second. That led to a warning from plate umpire Todd Tichenor.
Yankees manager Joe Girardi was ejected for arguing the warning. New York pitching coach Larry Rothschild and bench coach Rob Thomson were ejected along with Severino following the second melee.
Blue Jays third baseman Josh Donaldson, hit on the elbow by a pitch from Severino in the bottom of the first, walked in from his position and exchanged words with the New York dugout after Headley was hit.
Both benches and bullpens cleared that time, too, but no punches were thrown.
Making his first start since Aug. 14 in place of injured right-hander Masahiro Tanaka (right forearm), Severino was on a limit of 50 pitches. Instead, he was ejected after throwing his 34th. Severino allowed one run and one hit, walked two and struck out one.
Blue Jays right-hander Joaquin Benoit limped off the field and into the clubhouse following the second scuffle, appearing to favor his left foot or leg.
The Yankees had lost a record eight straight games in Toronto and 11 of 14 overall.
The teams were playing for the 19th and final time this season.
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