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“If they did throw up-and-in intentionally to Gunnar Henderson, frankly shame on them.”

After seeing two of their bats get plunked, the New York Yankees seemed to react, and the Baltimore Orioles broadcasters did not take it well.

After taking 94 mph fastballs with their hands on Tuesday night, Aaron Judge and Gleyber Torres raised questions about whether the Yankees ought to respond on Wednesday. Additionally, the Yankees appeared to respond when reliever Victor Gonzalez hit Orioles shortstop Gunnar Henderson in the shoulder during the seventh inning of Wednesday night’s 7-6 victory against Baltimore.

Orioles commentators Brett Hollander and Kevin Brown were furious about the potential retaliation because they thought Henderson’s hit-by-pitch may have been intentional.

Orioles commentators Brett Hollander and Kevin Brown were furious about the potential retaliation because they thought Henderson’s hit-by-pitch may have been intentional.

One day after Aaron Judge was struck by a pitch, Gunnar Henderson is hit by one as well. Kevin Brown and Brett Hollander react to this. snapchat.com/SxyFKXugyk

— June 20, 2024 — Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing)

Hollander stated on the MASN broadcast, “That was right up-and-in and [home plate umpire] Gabe Morales has to warn them now; everyone is chirping for it.”

“Gunnar Henderson handled the situation very maturely yesterday, and he’s handling it very maturely right now, whatever the matter may be,” Brown continued.

After Judge and Torres were hit yesterday, Henderson was hit by Yankees starting pitcher Nestor Cortes with an up-and-in pitch. Although Brown and Hollander were incensed by Henderson’s strikeout on Wednesday night, they also pointed out that Gonzalez walks a lot of batters, so it’s hard to say with certainty what his intentions were.

Brown conceded, “We cannot sit here and say with 100% certainty that he hit Gunnar Henderson [on purpose].” However, we can say that if the Yankees were considering taking a similar action, now would be the moment to do it—down three in the eighth with the bases empty. And to be honest, they should be ashamed if they actually did that and threw up on purpose in front of Gunnar Henderson.

Orioles reliever Dillon Tate stated before the game that the Yankees had “good reason” to be upset about two of their players getting hit by pitches on Tuesday night. Tate saw the Yankees’ frustration, but the Baltimore broadcasters failed to recognize the Yankees’ possible desire for payback.

Retaliation used to be accepted as part of the game and an unwritten code, and would be met with a shrug akin to “That’s baseball, Suzyn.” Regardless matter who originated the deadly practice, purposely throwing at a hitter is now considerably less acceptable than it was in the past.

Henderson was awarded first base, and the Orioles took advantage of the situation by driving him home later that inning, whether on purpose or not. It turned out to be a game-winning run as Baltimore defeated their American League East rivals 7-6 in extra innings.