Benches clear after Tigers, Athletics incident involving Kenley Jansen

sportsAug 2, 202638194

Benches briefly cleared after the Tigers and Athletics game in Sacramento when Tigers reliever Kenley Jansen objected to Jeff McNeil bunting with two outs in the bottom of the ninth. The confrontation occurred after the game’s final out, prompting players from both dugouts to come onto the field for a short time. MLB quoted that "I think he [Jansen] was just competitive and mad that McNeil bunted," framing the incident as a competitive dispute over the late-inning bunt. The moment drew sharp social-media criticism of Jansen and debate about unwritten baseball rules, though no reported ejections or injuries followed the postgame clearing.

Roger Cormier

@themetsnewsletter.com

Kenley Jansen took issue with Jeff McNeil bunting with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning. McNeil couldn't believe it.

4745d ago

David Marshall9

If you play the corners back because you think no one will bunt TO BRING THE TYING RUN TO THE PLATE, you’re a dumbass.

Andrew Carlson3

Did he think he had a no-hitter going or something? 🤡

Daniel Shank Cruz2

This is not the point but those Sacramento jerseys are atrocious.

DiscoKazuma2

Nice to see him and Báez are still buddies after their brief time together!

Gordonator1

Kenley Jansen should step in to bat Sunday.

Quoting this

kat, ghost of helenruthsghost33

Listen. Fielding bunts is a young man's game

🐉Laura🐉8

I like how all the Tigers came out onto the field, but are sort of sheepish about it. And Javy's just patting Jeff's chest like, "I know, dude."

nerdydodger7

I am going to take Kenleys side because I love him

Thanks For Sharing, Jerk7

Love a good brouhaha over the Unwritten Rules

Gregory Balloch5

Waiting to make sure you don’t blow the save before running your mouth is extremely funny

Wojtek the Union Law Bear4

My life changed the day I heard @sammillerbb.bsky.social's point about unwritten rules just being ways to get the other team to avoid doing things that would help them win

MittenGirlPeach 🧡 ⚾️ 🎾3

Javy playing peacemaker (wtf Kenley?)

creamcityjw3

tbf everyone wants to pummel jeff mcneil.

Charles Bryan, Part-Time Cat Bed2

Can we trade this guy?

Michael Elizondo2

Huh. I was down the road from Kenley when I was having my shake. That's neat.

Compasconk kronk

@cdgoldstein.baseballprospectus.com

disappointed the Dodgers couldn't have picked up Kenley Jansen in the deal tbh

4145d ago

Compasconk kronk25

is he good? no. do I care? also no.

Ami1

Listen, I think that Kyle Finnegan has a real chance to be Dave Roberts’s next emotional support relief pitcher and I would love that for both of them!

Patrick Daugherty

@rotopat.bsky.social

AJ Preller will easily beat the Skubal package when he acquires Kenley Jansen

3345d ago

Jomboy Media (Unofficial)

@jomboymedia-mirror.bsky.social

Benches cleared following the final out of Tigers vs A's after Kenley Jansen took exception to Jeff McNeil bunting in the ninth inning

1845d ago

Blake Brown4

Ridiculous. A bunt is a proper play. Nothing wrong with it.

Quoting this

kat, ghost of helenruthsghost10

Javy is telling them “look we are going through it rn”

💍Catchers💍5

I think people seem to be missing that Jeff McNeil suuuuuuuuuuuucks so I’m on kenleys side

Ennui-tery

@jerkwheatery.bsky.social

Kenley Jansen gonna start a fight over how fuckin washed he is

845d ago

Matt Gilson

@tgmwb.bsky.social

Craig: Jokerified by the Joe Kelly Experience Also Craig: Wants Dave Roberts to have the option of going to 2026 Kenley Jansen in leverage spots

945d ago

Quoting this

💍Catchers💍6

Kenley should be able to retire a dodger if that’s what he wants and I’ve said this for years

Patrick Dubuque

@euqubud.baseballprospectus.com

Boy, Kenley Jansen has hurt a lot of people in the greater Detroit area

645d ago

The Majors Detroit

@tmsnxdetroit.bsky.social

The Tigers beat the Athletics 11-0 to complete a perfect 6-0 season series. Keider Montero threw six scoreless innings and Eduardo Valencia drove in four runs as Detroit won its third straight. #Tigers #RepDetroit

344d ago

@ncsox.bsky.social

I always thought "unwritten rules" like this were dumb. If you're losing, you do what you can within the rules of the game to win. If that means bunting with 2 outs in the ninth, then you do that. www.mlb.com/news/benches...

444d ago

TFTwins

@tftwins.bsky.social

Anyway, some other teams are also going to get better thanks to Detroit being a clear seller now. Their other pending free agents: Casey Mize Gleyber Torres Guys 2027 with team options: Kenley Jansen Drew Anderson Also: Jack Flaherty (though he's on the IL)

444d ago

Terry Sports

@terrysports22.bsky.social

Final Score; Detroit Tigers 13 Athletics 1 Dingler had a Grand Slam Home Run for Detroit. Go Detroit Tigers!! 7/31/2026

246d ago

Hoover Street Rag

@hooverstreetrag.org

Kenley Jansen has the most "how the hell is that not a balk every time" windup.

445d ago

ABS Auditor

@abs-auditor.bsky.social

ABS overturned in #Tigers at #Athletics (Bot 9). Dillon Dingler challenged the ball call on Kenley Jansen's pitch to Lawrence Butler. Ball -> Called Strike. HP: Louie Krupa | Upheld 57.1% (24/42). Result: Lawrence Butler called out on strikes.

245d ago

Goodbye, Home Run! -- PorchCast

@home-run.bsky.social

#Tigers Max Clark homers (1) on a fly ball to right center off #Athletics Jack Perkins. Spencer Torkelson scores. 🏳 387ft, 99.3mph, 35.0° DET 6 @ ATH 2 · TOP 6

245d ago

MLB Homerun Tracker

@mlbhomeruntracker.bsky.social

HOME RUN! Max Clark 2-Run HR off Jack Perkins Detroit Tigers @ Athletics Exit Velo: 99.3 mph | Launch Angle: 35° | Distance: 387 ft Top 6th | DET 6 - ATH 2 Season HR #1 #MLB #HomeRun #Tigers

45d ago

Yankees acquire Luis García Jr. from Nationalssports Olivia Miles breakout half energizes Lynx vs Feversports Red Sox hit three homers in one inning to surge past Dodgerssports Dodgers acquire Tarik Skubal from Tigerssports

Benches clear after Tigers, Athletics incident involving Kenley Jansen

Related