TORONTO - The Blue Jays and Yankees emptied the benches twice and went at it in the second inning after a string of hit batsmen Monday night.

It started in the first inning when New York starter Luis Severino hit Josh Donaldson on the elbow. Then Toronto starter J.A Happ took aim at Chase Headley, the first Yankee to go to the plate in the second. It took Happ two pitches to make contact with Headley - he just missed on the first attempt, throwing behind Headley.

Both benches and bullpens emptied but there was no real venom. The umpires cleared the field and the game continued.

Severino then raised the stakes by throwing inside at Justin Smoak to open the bottom of the second. He missed but hit Smoak on the leg with the second pitch.

That prompted another pitch invasion - with Smoak and Severino squaring up - and there was bad intent this time, not to mention a rolling ball of players before order was restored.

Catchers Gary Sanchez and Russell Martin had to be separated.