After Detroit closer Kenley Jansen secured the win for the Tigers, he and the A’s baserunner Jeff McNeil were chirping near the third-base line, prompting both benches to clear.
The issue stemmed from McNeil laying down an RBI bunt single earlier in the ninth inning, putting the A’s within two runs and extending the inning. When the next batter, Henry Bolte, flied out to end the game, Jansen had words with McNeil as he neared third base.
“Just a lot of competitive juices at the end. I think Kenley was frustrated by the bunt, which extended the inning,” Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said. “I didn’t really see them have words, and then we all ended up on the field.”
“Kind of sorting through it, I can see Kenley was really mad. I briefly talked to Kots [A’s manager Mark Kotsay] on the walk off the field. You walk off the field through the stadium. Just tried to get caught up. I think he [Jansen] was just competitive and mad that McNeil bunted.”
