There’s something in the air this season that has players just about ready to be at each other’s necks at a moment’s notice. We got another example of that last night when the Orioles hosted the Royals in Baltimore, thanks to a wild pitch by Royals pitcher Yordano Ventura.

Ventura had been wildly pitching all night, and the score reflected that. The O’s would win the game by a final score of 9-1, and by the time Baltimore’s star third baseman Manny Machado stepped into the box to face Ventura, he’d already allowed six runs on the evening. The hard-throwing right-hander had already pitched Machado close earlier in the game, so when this 99 MPH fastball came in tight and clocked Machado on the arm, he decided he’d had enough.

Machado charged the mound so quickly it seemed as if he’d already decided to do it before Ventura threw the pitch. The third baseman ran up to the Royals hurler, landed a couple of punches, wrestled him to the ground, and seconds later both benches had cleared and it became an all-out brawl.

Suspensions and fines will likely be handed out today, but for now, bask in one of the great facets of American baseball.