Hot duel in Tampa –

The benches emptied at the end of the seventh inning of the game between the Blue Jays and the Stripes when Toronto pitcher Génesis Cabrera got into an argument with José Caballero and pushed the Tampa Bay shortstop. The Rays beat the Blue Jays 5-1 yesterday.

Tempers flared after Caballero, who had a bunt single to drive in a run, rounded the bases on a throwing error by third baseman Justin Turner but was thrown out at third base on right fielder George Springer’s throw to shortstop Bo Bichette.

Cabrera and Caballero bumped into each other at the end of the play and exchanged words. The Blue Jays’ Dominican reliever pushed the Panamanian infielder, causing his teammates to leave each dugout.

Nobody threw punches.

“I saw the ball in the bullpen and started running. The coach motioned for me to go to third. When I arrived I saw that Bichette already had the ball, so I surrendered. I stop and Cabrera comes out of nowhere and touches me. But there is no play, I’m already out,” Caballero said. “I just asked him, why did you push me? He didn’t say a word. He just came up to me and pushed me again.”

The confrontation occurred two innings after Mexican Randy Arozarena of the Rayas celebrated his solo home run by kissing his bat and striking his classic pose with his arms crossed. The Mexican signed autographs for fans after returning to the dugout.

Cabrera was expelled.

“I’ll say it was more of the heat of the moment,” the visiting pitcher said. “I mean, I think we all overreacted a little bit. He looked at me and I just reacted. Sometimes it’s part of the game, but it’s over. “That’s where it ends.”

Tampa Bay manager Kevin Cash thinks Caballero handled the situation well by not doing anything to escalate the confrontation.

“Neither team let things get out of control,” Cash said.

THE BORICAN Eddie Rosario capped a three-run attack in the ninth inning with a sacrifice fly against his compatriot Alexis Díaz, and the Washington Nationals beat the Cincinnati Reds 7-6.

Pinch-hitter Nick Martini gave the Reds a 6-4 lead with a two-run double in the eighth inning off Hunter Harvey (1-0).

IN PHILADELPHIA, Ozzie Albies, Matt Olson, Marcell Ozuna and Michael Harris II each hit home runs in a game predicted to be a pitching duel that never materialized and ended with the Atlanta Braves beating the Phillies, 12-4. .

Max Fried, who won 14 games in 2021 and 2022, started the duel for Atlanta and faced just seven batters. He walked three and got just a couple of outs before leaving the game in the first inning, trailing 3-2.

STEVEN KWAN hit a home run and reached base four times on his visit to the area where he was born, and the Cleveland Guardians totaled 15 hits to defeat the Oakland Athletics 12-3 yesterday, supported by just 5,425 fans.

Six Cleveland players stole bases against Kyle McCann, a 26-year-old catcher making his major league debut.

IN BALTIMORE, Gunnar Henderson homered leading off the bottom of the first inning before adding a triple as part of a nine-run sixth inning as the Orioles handed the Los Angeles Angels a second straight rout. Los Angeles, this time 13-4.—AP