TORONTO (AP) — Blue Jays right-hander José Berríos suspected Seattle’s Cal Raleigh was relaying pitch information to his Mariners teammates and wanted the hard-hitting catcher to know what he thought of it.
Berríos exchanged angry words with Raleigh as he walked back to the dugout at the end of the fourth inning of Saturday’s 8-4, 12-inning loss to the Mariners.
“I don’t react that way very often,” Berríos said. “I’m a quiet and chill guy. But when some people are trying to fight with us in the field, I don’t respect that. I don’t like that."
Both benches cleared as Berríos and Raleigh jawed back between third base and home plate, but the situation did not escalate. As relievers from both teams were running in from the bullpens, Toronto slugger Vladimir Guerrero Jr. was waving his teammates back.
Raleigh denied relaying pitch information but said he understood Berríos’ reaction.
“I’d want my pitchers doing the same thing,” Raleigh said. “If somebody thought they were tipping, I’d want them to say something. Just how it is. Competitive baseball game. People are right in the heart of it.”
Blue Jays manager John Schneider said stealing signs and relaying pitch information is “fair game.”
“Teams do that. We get it,” Schneider said. “In the heat of the moment, you get a little bit fired up. I didn’t think the benches needed to clear. There was nothing crazy going on. But I like when our guys are sticking up for themselves.”
Raleigh came up again in the fifth and hit a two-run double to right field that put Seattle ahead 2-1. Raleigh finished 2 for 3 with three walks, one of them intentional.
In 20 games against the Blue Jays, Raleigh is batting .292 (21 for 72) with nine home runs and 18 RBIs.
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Jose Berrios winds up to throw to a Seattle Mariners batter in first-inning baseball game action in Toronto, Saturday, April 19, 2025. (Jon Blacker/The Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Jose Berrios throws to a Seattle Mariners batter in first-inning baseball game action in Toronto, Saturday, April 19, 2025. (Jon Blacker/The Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Jose Berrios throws to a Seattle Mariners batter in first-inning baseball game action in Toronto, Saturday, April 19, 2025. (Jon Blacker/The Canadian Press via AP)
Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh (29) hits a two run double against the Toronto Blue Jays in fifth inning American League baseball action in Toronto on Saturday, April 19, 2025. (Jon Blacker/The Canadian Press via AP)
BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Barcelona clinched its 28th Spanish league title after Lamine Yamal starred in its 2-0 win at crosstown rival Espanyol on Thursday.
Yamal scored in the 53rd minute when the teenage phenom slid past two defenders along the edge of the area before he whipped one of his now trademark left-footed curlers into the corner of the net.
It was a fitting culmination to Yamal's season. The 17-year-old excelled for Barcelona with his goals, dribbling and playmaking as he confirmed his status as the next big star of global soccer.
Fermín López scored in stoppage time after Espanyol was reduced to 10 men in the 80th when Leandro Cabrera saw a direct red for hitting Yamal in the stomach while disputing a ball.
Barcelona won the title with two rounds remaining. It completed a domestic double with the Copa del Rey title and reached the Champions League semifinals in a fantastic first season for coach Hansi Flick.
Flick’s team virtually ended Madrid’s title defense when it beat its top rival 4-3 on Sunday, making it four of four clasico victories across all competitions this season.
Madrid's victory over Mallorca on Wednesday impeded Barcelona from winning the title without playing. But the Catalan club needed just two points from its final three games of the season.
Barcelona’s players danced briefly on the field to celebrate while sprinklers wet them with water.
Espanyol outplayed its wealthier rival in the first half. But Urko González shot wide on a counterattack early on and Javi Puado couldn’t beat Wojciech Szczesny in a one-on-one opportunity.
But Yamal's great shot put Barcelona in control. Espanyol goalkeeper Joan García, who is linked to a move to a big club this summer, including Barcelona, dove but couldn’t reach the perfectly placed shot.
Espanyol needed to a good result from the derby as it hopes to stay out of the relegation fight. Espanyol remained in 16th place and five points from the drop zone.
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
Barcelona players celebrate after a goal during a Spanish La Liga soccer match between Espanyol and Barcelona in Barcelona, Spain, Thursday, May 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Jose Breton)
Barcelona's Fermin Lopez, celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during a Spanish La Liga soccer match between Barcelona and Espanyol at Lluis Companys Olympic Stadium in Barcelona, Spain, Thursday, May 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Joan Monfort)
Barcelona's Lamine Yamal reacts after scoring during a Spanish La Liga soccer match between Espanyol and Barcelona in Barcelona, Spain, Thursday, May 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Jose Breton)
Espanyol's Antoniu Roca, left, attempts a shot at goal in front of Barcelona's Gerard Martin during a Spanish La Liga soccer match between Barcelona and Espanyol at Lluis Companys Olympic Stadium in Barcelona, Spain, Thursday, May 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Joan Monfort)
Espanyol's Javi Puado, left, attempts a shot at goal in front of Barcelona's Andreas Christensen during a Spanish La Liga soccer match between Barcelona and Espanyol at Lluis Companys Olympic Stadium in Barcelona, Spain, Thursday, May 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Joan Monfort)
Barcelona's Lamine Yamal, left, celebrates with his teammates after scoring his side's opening goal during a Spanish La Liga soccer match between Barcelona and Espanyol at Lluis Companys Olympic Stadium in Barcelona, Spain, Thursday, May 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Joan Monfort)
Barcelona's Lamine Yamal spits out water as he warms up prior to a Spanish La Liga soccer match between Barcelona and Espanyol at Lluis Companys Olympic Stadium in Barcelona, Spain, Thursday, May 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Joan Monfort)
Barcelona's Lamine Yamal drinks water as he warms up prior to a Spanish La Liga soccer match between Barcelona and Espanyol at Lluis Companys Olympic Stadium in Barcelona, Spain, Thursday, May 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Joan Monfort)
Barcelona's Lamine Yamal, center, celebrates after scoring his side's opening goal during a Spanish La Liga soccer match between Barcelona and Espanyol at Lluis Companys Olympic Stadium in Barcelona, Spain, Thursday, May 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Joan Monfort)
Barcelona's Lamine Yamal, left, runs with the ball past Espanyol's Carlos Romero during a Spanish La Liga soccer match between Barcelona and Espanyol at Lluis Companys Olympic Stadium in Barcelona, Spain, Thursday, May 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Joan Monfort)
Barcelona's Lamine Yamal, left, celebrates with his teammate Alejandro Balde after scoring his side's opening goal during a Spanish La Liga soccer match between Barcelona and Espanyol at Lluis Companys Olympic Stadium in Barcelona, Spain, Thursday, May 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Joan Monfort)
Barcelona's Lamine Yamal attempts a shot at goal to scores his side's opening goal during a Spanish La Liga soccer match between Barcelona and Espanyol at Lluis Companys Olympic Stadium in Barcelona, Spain, Thursday, May 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Joan Monfort)
