Brandon Hyde vs. Robbie Ray adds chirpy chapter to Jays-Orioles history of hostility

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This article was published 11/09/2021 (1505 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Another day, another dust-up between the Blue Jays and Baltimore Orioles.

During the second inning of Friday night’s 6-3 win over the Jays, Baltimore manager Brandon Hyde was caught on a TV hot mic shouting and swearing at Jays starter Robbie Ray while the left-hander faced the Orioles’ Richie Martin.

Hyde said later that he was “embarrassed” by the nasty comments going public and apologized, but didn’t go into detail about what made him react the way he did.

“I understand that some of my language was picked up on a mic by our dugout,” Hyde said in a post-game Zoom conference. “I just wanted to apologize to all the fans out there, the Blue Jays, Robbie Ray, (Jays manager) Charlie Montoyo. It was a little bit of heat of the moment.

“I felt like our team was being accused of something that wasn’t happening. We had a lively dugout tonight, but my language, there’s no excuse for that.”

Ray was in no mood to comment in the aftermath: “I’m not going to waste my time on someone that doesn’t get into the box, so I don’t have the time of day.”

After responding to Hyde in the moment, even waving as if to invite him onto the field for a closer exchange, Ray collected his emotions and struck out Martin. Montoyo praised the starter for staying in control and keeping the Jays in the game at that point, adding Saturday that he hadn’t heard Hyde’s apology.

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It was hardly the first time the Jays and Orioles had butted heads. Here’s a quick look back at some of the rocky history between the American League East rivals:

• Gaston vs. Mussina: Cito Gaston, managing the AL all-stars after the Jays’ first of two World Series titles, angered the hometown crowd when he didn’t use Orioles ace Mike Mussina in the 1993 midsummer classic at Camden Yards. Gaston told the right-hander — 24 at the time, with several more all-star games in his Hall of Fame future — that he wouldn’t pitch unless it went to extra innings. But Mussina, on his own, decided to get up in the bullpen in the eighth and ninth innings, which got Baltimore fans’ hopes up. When Gaston brought in Jays reliever Duane Ward instead, the “Cito sucks” chants began and garbage was thrown his way.

• Stroman vs. Joseph: Former Jays starter Marcus Stroman, then 23, was suspended six games after he threw a fastball behind the head of Orioles batter Caleb Joseph on Sept. 17, 2014. The pitch came an inning after Joseph stepped on the hand of the Jays’ Jose Reyes as he slid into home. Stroman eventually struck out Joseph, then stared down and chirped the Orioles dugout as he walked off. Stroman swore he never intended to throw at anyone.

• Bautista vs. O’Day: The most famous rivalry began in June 2013, when Jays slugger José Bautista exchanged words with Orioles reliever Darren O’Day after a strikeout. Bautista homered off O’Day later in that series, and they went at it again. The bad blood continued for years, with O’Day hitting or throwing behind Bautista several times, while the former Jay dialed up the celebration after his many home runs off the sidearmer.

• Manoah vs. Franco: Benches cleared during a June 19 game at Camden Yards this year, after Jays right-hander Alek Manoah hit the Orioles’ Maikel Franco with a pitch. Hyde and Montoyo exchanged angry words in the middle of the mob scene. Manoah said the ball just slipped, but was ejected and eventually suspended five games. Montoyo received a one-game suspension.

Laura Armstrong is a Star sports reporter based in Toronto. Follow her on Twitter: @lauraarmy