Athletics and Tigers benches clear as Grant Balfour and Victor Martinez jaw (Video)

The Oakland Raiders and Detroit Tigers were playing just your routine American League Division Series game three when things took a weird turn in the ninth inning. The Tigers’ Victor Martinez fouled off Athletics’ Grant Balfour’s pitch, routine baseball.

Grant Balfour walks down the mound and into the grass staring at Martinez. Martinez keeps his eyes fixed on Balfour the whole time.

I can’t quite make out what Balfour says, it is partly beeped out and I can’t clearly hear what he is saying but Martinez is still watching Balfour.

Now I can’t hear what Martinez says in response to Balfour, but I can read his lips very easily. The two begin to walk towards each other and Balfour asks what Martinez’s problem is while using an expletive at the same time.

An umpire tries to get in between the two who continue to yell at each other. Eventually the benches are cleared, including the bullpens. It doesn’t look like it escalates beyond teams separating players who are trying to argue with one another.

The announcers chalk it up to Balfour just being Balfour. They explain that he talks a lot, to no one in particular, trying to fire himself up and Martinez took it personally.

This isn’t the first time Balfour has yelled expletives on live television though.