Benches clear in Yankees-Orioles over stolen base kerfuffle

Join Post Sports+ for exciting subscriber-only features, including real-time texting with Greg Joyce about the inside buzz on the Yankees.BALTIMORE — The Yankees and Orioles got their steps in, but that was just about all that was accomplished when the benches cleared in the bottom of the fourth inning Wednesday night.The snafu stemmed from Orioles outfielder Heston Kjerstad appearing to get upset at Pablo Reyes for incidentally clipping his head on the way back down to earth after leaping to catch a throw as Kjerstad stole second base.Reyes had nowhere else to go, but straddled his legs out as Kjerstad slid underneath him and then came down on his head and took an extra second to catch his balance.

After Kjerstad slid into second, he got up and started chirping at Reyes, who walked toward the bag to engage, which set off the benches and bullpens clearing.Everyone did a whole lot of standing around near second base, but no punches were thrown.Kjerstad was at the center of tensions spilling over between the two teams last July when Clay Holmes drilled him in the head with a pitch in the bottom of the ninth.That led to Orioles manager Brandon Hyde charging toward the Yankees dugout and the benches clearing....