Aaron Judge and Alek Manoah defused the situation after the Yankees were upset with hit by pitch

The New York Yankees have been playing some of the worst baseball in the league since the All-Star break, so frustrations have understandably reached a tipping point in the Bronx.

But the last thing the Yankees need right now is a blench-clearing incident and possible suspensions. Aaron Judge made sure to make that clear to his teammates on Sunday.

During the fifth inning of the Yankees’ game against the Blue Jays, Judge took a first-pitch sinker from Alek Manoah right to the elbow guard. Initially, Judge wasn’t too pleased with the pitch (I mean, who likes getting plunked?). So as Judge was having words with Manoah, Gerrit Cole emerged from the dugout to shout at the Blue Jays All-Star.

At that point, the situation could have escalated out of control. But then something great happened: Judge and Manoah met on the field, chatted and calmed everyone down.

And while a first-pitch plunking to a star player always looks suspicious — particularly with first base open — the slow-motion replay seemed to show Manoah upset with himself as the ball left his hand. It wasn’t intentional in a one-run game, and that was likely what Manoah tried to get across in that show of respect between the two players.

As wild as a Judge vs. Manoah brawl would have been, MLB fans appreciated how the two players were able to deescalate the situation. Freddie Freeman had a similar approach last season.