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