Benches are empty in Yankees-Royals ALDS game after tough day; New York stars wave away players from Kansas City

Tensions were high at Kauffman Stadium on Thursday after a rough day led to a brief incident between the Kansas City Royals and New York Yankees that resulted in the benches being cleared.

Michael Massey hit a hard grounder to first base, and Jon Berti touched the ball before darting to second base. Maikel Garcia slipped hard into the bag, and Anthony Volpe's tag matched the severity.

Volpe hit Garcia near the chest and even touched his other arm. Volpe patted Garcia several times, which seemed like an apology for a rough day, but Garcia wasn't a fan.

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New York Yankees shortstop Anthony Volpe (11) tags Kansas City Royals third baseman Maikel Garcia (11) at second base during the sixth inning in game four of the ALDS for the 2024 MLB Playoffs at Kauffman Stadium. (Denny Medley-Imagn Images)

Garcia eyed Yankees third baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr., who gave Kansas City board material by saying they “got lucky” in Game 2. Chisholm then turned to Garcia, as did Volpe and even starting pitcher Gerrit Cole.

The benches and bullpens were cleared during this brief altercation as Volpe and Chisholm both waved Garcia off and Cole gave him a death glare.

Chisholm even had to be held back by several people from his own dugout.

It wasn't quite Greg Nettles vs. George Brett, but it was a nice homage to the old rivalry from the 1970s.

Jazz Chisholm Jr. #13 of the New York Yankees is held back by teammates during the sixth inning against the Kansas City Royals in game four of the Division Series at Kauffman Stadium on October 10, 2024 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Ed Zurga/Getty Images)

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Perhaps the Royals were looking for some sort of spark, as the incident occurred with ten outs to go – it seemed to fire them up a bit when Bobby Witt singled and then scored on a double by Vinnie Pasquantino.

But for the most part, Cole mowed down Kansas City, allowing exactly that run in his first six innings at the time of publication.

The Kansas City Royals and the New York Yankees argue after New York Yankees shortstop Anthony Volpe (11, not pictured) hits Kansas City Royals third baseman Maikel Garcia (11, not pictured) in the sixth inning of Game 4. attacked the ALDS for the 2024 MLB Playoffs at Kauffman Stadium. (Denny Medley-Imagn Images)

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Giancarlo Stanton continued to build on his October resume, adding an RBI single in the sixth inning. Juan Soto and Gleyber Torres also had RBI singles.

A win would send the Yankees into their fourth ALCS since 2017, all of which ended in eliminations over the Houston Astros.

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