Punches Fly in Braves-Angels Brawl After Soler Rushes Mound

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Tensions boiled over in Tuesday night's game between the Atlanta Braves and Los Angeles Angels, leading to a bench-clearing brawl after Braves slugger Jorge Soler took exception to an up-and-in pitch from Angels pitcher Reynaldo López. Punches were thrown, though it's unclear if any connected, and both Soler and López were ejected from the game.

Why it matters

Brawls and on-field altercations are relatively rare in today's MLB, so this incident stands out as a notable flare-up between two teams not known for bad blood. The situation also raises questions about player safety, retaliation, and how umpires and managers handle these types of confrontations.

The details

The incident occurred in the fifth inning, several innings after Soler had been hit by a pitch on the hand. When López threw a pitch up-and-in that went to the backstop, Soler took exception and approached the mound. That's when the benches cleared and the brawl broke out, with Braves manager Walt Weiss among the first to enter the fray, tackling Soler in an attempt to de-escalate the situation.

• The incident occurred in the fifth inning of Tuesday's game.
• Soler had previously been hit by a pitch on the hand earlier in the game.

What’s next

Because punches were thrown, suspensions are very likely coming for López and Soler. Weiss could also be suspended if MLB deems the hit-by-pitch or López's up-and-in pitch intentional. Others could receive suspensions or fines for their role in the brawl.