It wasn’t just the heat boiling over at Progressive Field during the finale of a three-game series between the Toronto Blue Jays and Cleveland Guardians on Thursday.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr., wore a 95 m.p.h. Tanner Bibee sinker up-and-in during the top of the third inning with the Blue Jays up 3-0, and was visibly frustrated as he headed up the first baseline. He also was hit by a pitch in the eighth inning during Wednesday’s contest.
After initially trying to remain in the game, he was replaced in the bottom of the fourth by Davis Schneider causing a shuffle around the infield.
It didn’t end there.
Veteran starting pitcher Kevin Gausman returned to the mound in the fourth and plunked Guardians all-star José Ramírez in a similar location.
Warnings were immediately issued to both dugouts, and Ramírez also ended up leaving the contest after trying to gut it out on the base paths.
Following the removal of his third baseman, Guardians manager Stephen Vogt was shown on the broadcast being restrained by an umpire and yelling in frustration toward the Blue Jays dugout. After the Guardians’ loss, Vogt seemed to indicate he wasn’t happy with the location of Gausman’s pitch.
“We knew they were going to hit Jose. We knew it was coming, which is part of the game. All I said was hit him in the hip,” Vogt said. “Played this game a long time, been around this game a long time. If you’re going to hit somebody on purpose, hit him in the hip, not the arm.”
Blue Jays manager John Schneider, meanwhile, denied Gausman was trying to hit Ramirez.
“I know they’re not trying to throw at Vlad. We’re not trying to throw at Jose. It’s just kind of one of those things where you’re trying to make a pitch. I thought everyone handled it fine,” Schneider said.
Vogt did his own denial on the HBP on Guerrero.
“You have to pitch guys like that inside. Every now and then, one’s going to get away. We’re clearly not trying to hit anybody. We don’t do that. But he gets hit twice in a series, you know one’s coming,” Vogt said.
Both Guerrero Jr., and Ramírez were removed with forearm contusions, and received negative X-rays, per their clubs. Schneider said he is hopeful Guerrero Jr. can play Friday in Boston.
Gausman remained steady and cruised for eight shutout innings collecting six strikeouts and allowed just two hits, marking the fourth time this season he pitched at least seven frames.
Bibee finished with seven strikeouts over six innings, allowing two earned runs on three hits.
The Blue Jays went on to win 6-0 to take the series 2-1.
