Los Angeles Angels designated hitter Jorge Soler and Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Reynaldo Lopez were both ejected in the bottom of the fifth inning on Tuesday in Anaheim, Calif., following a benches-emptying fight.
Soler, who hit a two-run homer in the first inning and was struck by a pitch on his left hand in the third, took exception to a high and inside fifth-inning fastball that glanced off the glove of catcher Jonah Heim and bounced to the backstop, enabling Nolan Schanuel, who had walked, to advance to second.
Soler stared at Lopez for several seconds before jogging to the mound. Both players then squared up began throwing punches, none of which appeared to land squarely, as players from both teams rushed in. Lopez fended Soler off with his glove and threw punches with his right hand, which still held the baseball.
Braves manager Walt Weiss ended up tackling Soler on the first base line to help break up the fracas.
The top main combatants were the only personnel threw out of the game.
Lopez was nearing the end of his outing, at 80 pitches and 4 2/3 innings over which he struck out seven and allowed two runs on three hits and two walks.
Soler was the 2021 World Series MVP for the Braves and is now on his third different team since that brief stint, including a return to Atlanta in 2024.
Tyler Kinley replaced Lopez, stranding a runner at third, while Jeimer Candelario replaced Soler in the Angels’ lineup.
–Field Level Media
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