Watch: Yankees pitcher plunks Orioles OF in the head, leading to nasty bench-clearing brawl

While the hit-by-pitch certainly raised tension at Camden Yards, Orioles manager Brandon Hyde escalated the situation. After checking on Kjerstad, a furious Hyde charged the Yankees dugout, attempting to push his way past catcher Austin Wells as the situation quickly boiled over.

Afterward, Hyde confirmed that Holmes didn't trigger his anger, admitting to reporters that he let his emotions get the better of him after hearing chirps from the Yankees dugout.

"It's an emotional time at that time," Hyde said, via Jacob Calvin Meyer of the Baltimore Sun. "I got my guy who just got hit right in the ear. I'm upset and then I see their dugout. They're waving at me and yelling at me, so I just didn't appreciate it at the time."

As for Kjerstad's status, Hyde said he was undergoing tests, but the team was "hoping he's OK."

It's unlikely that there was any ill intent on behalf of Holmes, who had Kjerstad down 0-2 in the count, needing only two more outs to secure a Yankees victory. Meanwhile, the right-hander is known to be a little wild.

Friday's run-in wasn't the first nasty disagreement between the two rivals.

On June 18, Baltimore starter Albert Suarez hit Yankees slugger Aaron Judge with a pitch, resulting in New York retaliating the following day by nailing All-Star second baseman Gunnar Henderson.

Perhaps Holmes took the opportunity to stir things up again, but it doesn't make much sense considering the circumstances.

More than likely, the bruhaha was the product of frustration on the part of the Orioles and Hyde. Following Friday's 4-1 loss to the Yankees, Baltimore has dropped four in a row and five straight at home.

Meanwhile, with the victory, the slumping Yankees (57-39), who are just 3-7 over their last 10 games, are only a game back of the Orioles (57-37) for first place in the AL East.

The two sides meet again on Saturday at 4 p.m. ET, and there's a good chance more shenanigans could unfold.