BOSTON Whether the Orioles dust-up with the Boston Red Sox on Saturday afternoon at Fenway Park galvanizes their clubhouse remains to be seen over the course of a season still in its infancy.

Regardless, the dugout-emptying confrontation between Orioles pitcher Bud Norris and Red Sox catcher David Ross in the Orioles 4-2 loss is an example of the intensity of life in the American League East no matter the calendar date.

All was normal until Ross stepped to the batters box with a man on first and no outs in the seventh inning with the game tied at 2. Looking to bunt, he believed some of Norris deliveries were coming close to his head, and he didnt like that.

So after Ross squared around and a 90 mph 2-1 pitch rode high and in, the veteran catcher twice yelled out to Norris, Make an adjustment, as he stepped toward the mound.

The Orioles 6-foot-5 catcher, Matt Wieters, stepped in front of the 6-2 Ross quickly and exchanged words with him before anything could escalate. Players and coaches flooded out of both dugouts, but cooler heads prevailed.

The emotions are running high, Orioles first baseman Chris Davis said. Its the Red Sox. Its a rival. Its a part of the game. We dont back down. Thats our thing. We have each others backs. If somebody wants to run their mouths, well stand up to them.

This wasnt the knockdown, drag-out Kevin Gregg-David Ortiz brawl of three seasons ago at Fenway, but rather a reminder to the Red Sox that under manager Buck Showalter, these Orioles arent going to back down to the defending World Series champions in any situation.

I guess he thought somebody was throwing at him after two breaking balls and a fastball away, Showalter said. I don't know. It's emotional. Ross is a good player, a good catcher and a pro. But I know Matt. He's not going to allow somebody to yell at his pitcher like that, especially when [Ross] doesn't have any reason to.

Showalter was more frustrated by the fact that both teams received warnings after Ross outburst but nothing happened after Davis was plunked with a 2-0 fastball in the top of the seventh.

We got a warning because of Ross' reaction, Showalter said. Go figure.

Continued here:

After confrontation, Red Sox have last word in crucial 7th inning of 4-2 win vs. Orioles