KANSAS CITY – Heading into this American League Division Series between the Yankees and the Royals, there was much talk about the open hostility between the two teams during a somewhat epic rivalry from 1976 through ‘80, when they battled in the playoffs four times in five years.

It took until the sixth inning of Thursday’s Game 4 -- which the Yankees won, 3-1, to advance to the ALCS -- but tempers at last flared in the modern-day matchup, and the benches emptied, though no punches were thrown.

How did it start?

Maikel Garcia slid into the bag on a 3-6 double play started by Jon Berti, who stepped on first base and then fired to shortstop Anthony Volpe to complete the play.

Garcia’s slide appeared to be later than normal, and Volpe gave him a shove below the chin with his right forearm while tagging him out. It was unclear if Volpe’s actions were intentional, or if it was just part of the play. Volpe gave Garcia a little push off the bag after the play was over, and then patted him on the chest.

The combination of events didn’t sit well with Garcia, who started jawing back and forth with Volpe and a few other Yankees. Jazz Chisholm Jr. was also hollering at Garcia at the start of the exchange.

Just as Gleyber Torres was playing peacemaker with a heated Garcia, walking him back toward the Kansas City dugout, the benches and dugouts emptied.

The situation was resolved after a couple of minutes.

The Royals were down, 3-0, at the time of the dust-up, and perhaps rode some emotion with a two-out single by Bobby Witt Jr. and an RBI double by Vinnie Pasquantino that put them on the board later in the inning.