A’s and Blue Jays exchange words after bizarre interference incident

For a very strange reason, there was some excitement during Sunday’s game between the Oakland Athletics and the Toronto Blue Jays.

After the Blue Jays took a 6-3 lead against Oakland in the 10th inning, Davis Schneider hit a popup into the huge foul territory on the first-base side of the Oakland Coliseum. A’s first baseman Tyler Soderstrom chased him down but couldn’t catch the ball when he collided with Blue Jays pitcher Yusei Kikuchi, who was minding his own business near the Toronto dugout.

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Yusei Kikuchi intervenes. pic.twitter.com/WQsBcHj6vA

– Ryley Delaney (@Ryley_L_D) June 9, 2024

After a conference, the umpires eventually called Schneider for obstruction. While the call was being discussed, however, several Blue Jays players climbed to the top step of the dugout and began yelling across the field at the Oakland players. It wasn’t clear who started it or what the problem was, but it was pretty obvious that a heated dialogue ensued.

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Tempers flared after Tyler Soderstrom collided with a member of the Blue Jays near the visitors bench 👀 pic.twitter.com/hfplwA3m9G

— A’s on NBCS (@NBCSAthletics) June 9, 2024

This is something that can only happen in Oakland. The dugouts there don’t have the protective fencing that exists everywhere else, so players just hang around near them and on the steps during the game. Kikuchi, a starting pitcher who didn’t play Sunday, didn’t seem to be trying to bother Soderstrom, just realizing too late that he was going to be in the way.

Ultimately, the decision was the right one and the Blue Jays won. But this and other incidents show why few will miss the game at the Coliseum when the A’s leave the stadium.