Red Sox manager John Farrell said that Major League Baseball held a conference call with his team and the Baltimore Orioles on Wednesday to tell both sides "enough is enough."
"I guess the best way to describe it is: I can confirm that there was a call and it happened for both clubs, to basically address the last two weeks and to say, 'Enough is enough,''' Farrell said before the game, adding that he hoped that would be the end of it.
Farrell said he had heard nothing about possible discipline for Red Sox ace Chris Sale, who threw behind Orioles third baseman Manny Machado on Tuesday night. The manager said nothing specific was said about that during the call.
Farrell said he was glad that there would be no pregame warning, because that changes the complexion of the game.
After what had already been an emotionally charged series between these teams, Orioles starter Kevin Gausman was ejected at Fenway Park from Wednesday's game after he hit Red Sox shortstop Xander Bogaerts with an off-speed pitch to open the bottom of the second inning.
The 77 mph curveball hit Bogaerts in the hip, prompting plate umpire Sam Holbrook to toss the pitcher immediately. As soon as Holbrook's arm went into the air, Orioles catcher Caleb Joseph jumped out of his crouch and got in Holbrook's face, vociferously arguing with the umpire about the quick-triggered ejection. Baltimore third baseman Manny Machado was also among those yelling in Holbrook's direction as manager Buck Showalter jogged out to confront the umpire.
Following an eight-minute delay, lefty Richard Bleier replaced Gausman. Orioles All-Star Adam Jones, the target of racial slurs at Fenway Park on Monday, was also tossed for arguing a called strike.
The Red Sox won Wednesday's game, 4-2.
Earlier Wednesday, Orioles general manager Dan Duquette told ESPN's Buster Olney on the Baseball Tonight Podcast that the Red Sox's throwing at Machado three times in the past two weeks is "unacceptable" and said he hoped there would be a response from the league on Wednesday.
"Manny Machado is one of the great players in baseball," Duquette said. "Machado shouldn't have to dodge a missile every time he comes to the plate."
The Orioles GM reiterated that he didn't think Machado was trying to hurt Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia when he slid into second base nearly two weeks ago in Baltimore.
"To have them intentionally drill him three times, that's not acceptable," Duquette said. "I hope the league does something today.
"There's no room for intentionally throwing at players in baseball. Manny has the right to go out and do his job without being physically threatened every time out there."
ESPN's Coley Harvey contributed to this report.