Kansas City Royals and New York Yankees players argue following a tag on Royals third baseman Maikel Garcia (11, not pictured) by Yankees shortstop Anthony Volpe (11, not pictured) at second base during the sixth inning during Game 4 of the ALDS for the 2024 MLB Playoffs at Kauffman Stadium. Denny Medley-Imagn Images

Watch: Benches empty between Yankees-Royals during Game 4

By Adam Gretz | Last updated 10/10/24

Emotions are always going to be running a little high in an elimination game, and we saw that unfold in Game 4 of the ALDS between the New Yankees and Kansas City Royals on Thursday night,

Both benches briefly emptied in the bottom of the sixth inning after Royals second baseman Michael Massey grounded into a double play.

The play started with Massey hitting a sharply hit ground ball to first base. Yankees first baseman Jon Berti stepped on the bag for the force out of Massey, and then threw to shortstop Anthony Volpe so he could apply a tag on Maikel Garcia.

Garcia went in hard to second base with a late slide, while Volpe applied the tag and appeared to get his forearm into Garcia's face.

Following the tag, Volpe tapped Garcia on the chest and back and appeared to say something, clearly annoying Garcia.

It was at that point that other Yankees infielders interjected, and both benches emptied.

Benches cleared in KC and words were exchanged after Anthony Volpe and Maikel Garcia got into it on this play pic.twitter.com/xtsK2Irg9K
— Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) October 11, 2024

No punches were thrown and no ejections were made. Even though cooler heads eventually prevailed, it still elevated the temperature in an already intense game.

The double play would also be significant because the Royals would eventually score a run in the inning. Had the Yankees not been able to turn two on the inning would have turned out significantly different for both teams.

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