Reactions to the Royals-Blue Jays bench-clearing on Sunday

The Royals and Blue Jays cleared the benches after a chippy Sunday afternoon game that saw Josh Donaldson plunked in the first inning and Alcides Escobar plunked in the eighth in retaliation for Donaldson getting pitched inside all afternoon. After the Escobar plunking, both benches cleared, leading to ejections for Blue Jays manager John Gibbons and coach DeMarlo Hale.

Here are the incidents to set everything off.

Edinson was unapologetic after the game, mocking Josh Donaldson.

"He’s a little baby," Volquez said. "He was crying like a baby."...

"He started looking at me like I was trying to hit him with a fastball," Volquez said. "I told the first-base coach, ‘Hey, that was a changeup. If I want to hit you, I’ll hit you with a fastball. Why would I throw a changeup to hit you?’"

He added, "If I hit him again, he’s supposed to get mad, right? But if the ball’s close to you, trying to pitch inside to you, and it doesn’t hit you, why do you get mad? Why do you get so pissed off?"

Ryan Madson, who hit Troy Tulowitzki in the game, agreed, arguing the Royals were simply trying to move the Blue Jays off the plate.

"They were taking really comfortable at-bats, really big swings," Madson said. "You’ve got to throw in, off the plate, a little bit."...

"For him to get upset, I don’t think he fully understands the game, or he just let his emotions get the best of him," Madson said. "He thought that a warning means you can’t throw inside."

Edinson could be seen from the dugout mocking Josh Donaldson for complaining.

Here's Volquez mocking Donaldson before Bautista crushes a double. pic.twitter.com/zaeg5j1p8z

— DB (@dlbno) August 2, 2015

Aaron Sanchez insists the plunking wasn't intentional.

Sanchez plunked Escobar a 2nd time during his post-game: "If I wanted to send a message, I would've sent a message to their big guys."

— Dan Toman (@dantoman) August 2, 2015

The two teams were pretty chippy all weekend.

Cueto accused Donaldson of stealing signs. Love this.

— Blue Jays Bat Boy (@bluejaysbatboy) August 1, 2015

Pitcher R.A. Dickey has a future as a sports analyst or armchair psychologist.

Dickey on the Royals … #BlueJays pic.twitter.com/wIWB8vTftd

— John Lott (@LottOnBaseball) August 2, 2015

Blue Jays Manager John Gibbons was pretty level-headed after the game.

Here is Ned Yost's take on the situation.

Jose Bautista is not signing with the Royals.

Just heard #NedYost comments about the game. Lost a lot of respect for that man today.

— Jose Bautista (@JoeyBats19) August 2, 2015

The Royals, will of course, be blamed.

At some point you can't give Royals benefit of the doubt. This is happening too many times to be mere coincidence.Have they fought everyone?

— Alyson Footer (@alysonfooter) August 2, 2015

Has any team fallen from likable underdog status faster than the Royals?

— Pinstripe Alley (@pinstripealley) August 2, 2015

Royals fans supported their boys.

For those who think the #Royals hit others as much as they themselves get hit. #nope pic.twitter.com/Di2TfupGGh

— MHarvey (@mharvey816) August 2, 2015

Everyone notice the #Royals issues this year all seem to revolve around butthurt 2014 A's players?

— Luke G. (@LG_RoyalsBlue) August 2, 2015

An opinion shared by many, was that this would be a great series to re-visit in October....if the Blue Jays can make it that far.

This game/series, however, is delightful. I'd watch Jays/Royals every day.

— Jonah Keri (@jonahkeri) August 2, 2015