What caused Red Sox-Orioles’ benches-clearing incident? (notebook)

· Yahoo Sports

BALTIMORE — The Red Sox’ 1-0 win over the Orioles on Friday included a benches-clearing incident, but what caused it?

“I was just trying to figure it out myself right now,” interim manager Chad Tracy said. “I just think there was some chirping.”

Visit afsport.lat for more information.

The confrontation occurred after shortstop Trevor Story and second baseman Nick Sogard turned a 6-4-3 double play to end the eighth inning. Blaze Alexander, who slid hard into second base, had words for Sogard.

“He slid in pretty hard,” Sogard said. “I didn’t have a problem with the slide. We turned the double play. I was just looking back to see how far he went. I don’t know if he liked me looking back. And then that was pretty much it.”

Both bullpens emptied as well.

“I didn’t say nothing until he started talking,” Sogard said.

On Thursday, Red Sox base runner Jahmai Jones broke up a double play in the eighth inning by sliding hard into second base as Alexander attempted to turn two.

But Sogard said he doesn’t think Jones’ slide from the day before caused Alexander to react the way he did Friday.

“I think he plays hard,” Sogard said. “He was kind of talking the whole game to Ranger (Suarez) and the whole deal. I don’t know if that’s his deal or what, but that’s about it.”

Alexander told the media said he was “getting stared at” after his slide, according to Baltimore Sun’s Jacob Calvin Meyer.

“I don’t know why they’re upset. I didn’t touch them. There’s more contact on the play last night,” Alexander said.

Only words were exchanged, nothing more.

“Not a big deal. Not a huge thing,” Tracy said. “It’s one of those things where everybody’s out there and it looks like a bigger deal than it is. I just think there was some chirping in our direction and they took exception.”

Gasper belts eighth homer in 16 games

Mickey Gasper’s 375-foot homer to right field in the first inning provided the game’s only run. He connected on a 93.9 mph fastball that Orioles starter Shane Baz left right down the plate.

“I figured that was going to be one of a few, but turned out to be the difference in the game,” Gasper said. “It was a good swing.”

Gasper has eight home runs in his past 16 games.

“It feels great,” Gasper said. “Helping the team win, that’s the biggest thing. For me to do my part. I feel like later in games right now, just not executing with men on. But to scratch one across there, which turned out to be a big run, it’s a good feeling.”

Chapman one save shy of 400

Aroldis Chapman pitched a perfect ninth inning. He got Pete Alonso to ground out to shortstop, struck out Gunnar Henderson swinging, and retired Christian Encarnacion-Strand on a line out to shortstop.

It was his 399th career save.

“It’s impressive doing what he’s doing as long as he’s been doing it,” Tracy said. “And the work he puts in to keep himself in shape and keep himself able to post as much as he does, he’s pretty impressive.”

With his next save, Chapman will become the ninth reliever all-time to reach 400. He’ll join Mariano Rivera (652), Trevor Hoffman (601), Kenley Jansen (493), Lee Smith (478), Craig Kimbrel (441), Francisco Rodríguez (437), John Franco (424) and Billy Wagner (422).

Story records another hit

Trevor Story singled Friday. He now has hits in all five of his games since returning from the IL. Overall, he’s 8-for-20 with four doubles.

“He looks confident in the box,” Tracy said. “He’s swinging at the right pitches. He’s hitting some balls hard. So that’s a really big plus for us and for our lineup.”

More Red Sox coverage

Read the original article on MassLive. Add MassLive as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Read full story at source