TORONTO
A dramatic series between the Royals and Blue Jays turned ugly on Sunday afternoon, as Kansas City fell, 5-2, in the finale. Neither team appeared happy with the umpiring crew, as a series of hit-by-pitches escalated into an on-field confrontation.
The benches emptied in the top of the eighth, shortly after Toronto reliever Aaron Sanchez drilled shortstop Alcides Escobar with a 97-mph fastball. Umpire Jim Wolf ejected Sanchez from the game. It was not difficult to discern intent – there were two outs, and the Blue Jays were still smarting from the previous inning, when Troy Tulowitzki was hit with a pitch and Josh Donaldson was moved off the plate by another.