CINCINNATI — Major League Baseball is reviewing video of the latest fight between the Pirates and Reds, with Pittsburgh manager Clint Hurdle expecting suspensions on both sides.
Reds manager David Bell faces a significant suspension for running onto the field and going after Hurdle during the ninth inning of Pittsburgh’s 11-4 win Tuesday night. Bell already had been ejected from the game.
Hurdle spoke with Chief Baseball Officer Joe Torre on Wednesday before an afternoon game against the Reds that concludes their raucous series. Hurdle said MLB was reviewing video of the numerous confrontations during the game, which turned into a fight in the ninth when Reds reliever Amir Garrett charged the Pittsburgh dugout.
Four from each team were ejected, including about-to-be-traded Yasiel Puig.
“Yeah, I anticipate suspensions, and seeing some of the things that our guys were involved with, there definitely could be ramifications coming our way as well,” Hurdle said.
The NL Central rivals have a history of run-ins that crept into this season when Derek Dietrich admired his home run at PNC Park in April, prompting a fracas. Puig was at the center of the fight, taking on the Pirates by himself at one point. Puig got a two-game suspension and Bell a one-game ban.
Tempers flared again Tuesday night in the eighth inning when Keone Kela threw up-and-in to Dietrich. Joey Votto yelled into the Pirates dugout between innings, taking exception to the pitch. Separately, Bell was ejected for arguing after a strike was called with Puig at bat in the eighth.
Jared Hughes hit Starling Marte with his first pitch in the ninth, bringing things to a boil. Garrett later traded words from the mound with Pittsburgh’s Trevor Williams, who was in the dugout. Garrett ran to the dugout and started swinging as the benches emptied.
Bell emerged from the Reds dugout and ran across the field toward Hurdle, who was shoved to the ground. Pirates hitting coach Rick Eckstein got Bell in a headlock. Bell screamed profanities at Hurdle as he left the field.
“There’s a lot of adrenaline and even rage,” Bell said Wednesday.
Bell contends the Pirates throw at batters purposely and has complained that Major League Baseball hasn’t clamped down. Bell and Hurdle exchanged lineup cards with the umpires before Wednesday’s game but didn’t interact.
Asked if he would talk to Hurdle about what happened, Bell said, “I told him exactly how I felt about it last night.”
Hurdle pointed out pregame Wednesday that he was hit in the head three times as a player. He said he’s never told one of his pitchers to throw at a hitter, contrary to Bell’s opinion.
“He’s going to think what he thinks, he’s going to feel what he feels,” Hurdle said. “I just shared with him, as he was telling me what I was (during the brawl), I just said you have no idea what you’re talking about.”
Bell, Puig, Garrett and bench coach Freddie Benavides were ejected from the Reds. Williams, Chris Archer, Kyle Crick and Francisco Cervelli - who is on the injured list - were ejected from the Pirates.
Garrett said Wednesday that he can’t explain how he lost his cool and charged the Pirates dugout.
“I don’t know what to say,” Garrett said. “I got out of character. That’s not my character. I don’t pretend to be a tough guy.”
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