Braves Beat Angels After Bench-Clearing Brawl

Ozzie Albies homers as Reynaldo López ejected in wild game

Apr. 8, 2026 at 6:49am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a chaotic baseball brawl, with players' bodies and equipment fragmented into sharp, overlapping planes of bright colors.A wild bench-clearing incident during a Braves-Angels game exposes the raw emotion and intensity that can erupt in professional baseball.Los Angeles Today

The Atlanta Braves defeated the Los Angeles Angels 7-2 on Tuesday night, with Ozzie Albies hitting his third home run of the season. However, the game was marred by a bench-clearing brawl that led to the ejection of Braves starter Reynaldo López.

Why it matters

Bench-clearing incidents are rare in baseball and often generate significant media attention. This altercation between the Braves and Angels could lead to suspensions and further disciplinary action from the league.

The details

In the 5th inning, Los Angeles designated hitter Jorge Soler went after Braves starter Reynaldo López, sparking a bench-clearing brawl. López had struck out 7 batters in 4 2/3 innings before the incident. Both López and Soler were ejected from the game.

  • The incident occurred in the 5th inning of Tuesday night's game.
  • The game was played on April 8, 2026.

The players

Ozzie Albies

Atlanta Braves second baseman who hit his third home run of the season in the game.

Reynaldo López

Atlanta Braves starting pitcher who was ejected after the bench-clearing brawl in the 5th inning.

Jorge Soler

Los Angeles Angels designated hitter who instigated the bench-clearing incident.

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What they’re saying

“Benches clearing incidents are never good for the game. We'll have to see what the league decides to do about this.”

— Dave Roberts, Los Angeles Angels Manager

What’s next

The league is expected to review the incident and hand down any suspensions or fines to the players involved in the next few days.

The takeaway

This wild game between the Braves and Angels showcases the intensity and emotion that can sometimes boil over in professional baseball. While the on-field action was exciting, the bench-clearing brawl overshadowed the actual game and will likely lead to consequences for the players involved.