The Orioles said Wednesday that they ejected two spectators from Tuesday night’s game at Camden Yards for violating the team’s fan code of conduct. Red Sox relief pitcher Richard Bleier accused fans of spitting and throwing beer at members of the Boston bullpen.
Bleier, a former Oriole and an eight-year veteran, said he’s accustomed to normal heckling from fans but that what he experienced Tuesday was the worst he’s seen in person.
“We are used to it. It’s part of baseball. You’re the visiting team, and especially with the Red Sox coming to town, we get it. But there’s a line that just should not be crossed,” Bleier said Wednesday. “Obviously throwing stuff at players is definitely crossing the line. If you decide to do that, there should be consequences for your actions.”
An Orioles spokesperson said Wednesday that they “have and strictly adhere to a fan code of conduct and our Ballpark Operations addressed the matter accordingly at last night’s game.”
Bleier first told the Boston Globe about the incident.
The visitors’ bullpen at Camden Yards is in front of the picnic area where the statues of Orioles greats stand. Any fan who violates the Orioles’ fan code of conduct is subject to ejection from Camden Yards.
Bleier said in the sixth or seventh inning a fan flicked the contents of a beer can at him in the bullpen. After two or three splashes, Bleier saw the spectator doing it, and the fan started running away.
“There was a group of people that were up there that were, you know, whatever, into the game. Nothing bad, just regular stuff,” Bleier said. “And then kind of out of nowhere — it wasn’t like we were saying whatever, there was no engagement or anything like that — just randomly decided to do that.”
At the end of the game, Bleier said a different fan leaned over the railing and spit on a bullpen catcher. He said the incidents were “random” and not a part of a back-and-forth between members of the Red Sox bullpen and fans.
Bleier, who pitched for the Orioles from 2017 to 2020, said the behavior was uncharacteristic of the fan base he recalls during his time in Baltimore.
“It would be one thing if it were an isolated incident,” Bleier said. “But to happen twice in one game by two different groups of people or whatever is definitely not what I would expect from here, especially from my time here.
“I’ve never seen something like that before in my life. I’ve seen it on TV, like when in Toronto they threw the beer [at Orioles outfielder Hyun Soo Kim in 2016]. I know it’s happened, but I’ve never personally witnessed something like that happening.”
Baltimore Sun reporter Nathan Ruiz contributed to this article.
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