Brandon Phillips at center of Cardinals-Reds brawl
Article By Unknown on 10th August, 2010
Sporting News staff reports
His manager wished Brandon Phillips hadn't called the Cardinals names, but the Reds second baseman wasn't backing down Tuesday from his critical comments of the team a day earlier.
And the Cardinals weren't shy about responding to Phillips' rant. The resulting exchange touched off a first-inning brawl in Game 2 of the NL Central rivals' series.
Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina made his feelings known when Phillips came to bat in the bottom of the first inning. Phillips tapped Molina's shin guard with his bat, a ritual Phillips performs before every at-bat. Molina took offense.
"The comment he made yesterday that he's got no friends over here — then why you touch me?" Molina told reporters after the Cardinals' 8-4 victory. "You are not my friend, so don't touch me. I mean, if we're no good for you, you are not my friend."
Molina's reaction sparked a heated exchange between the two at home plate. The benches and bullpens quickly emptied.
Reds manager Dusty Baker and Cardinals manager Tony La Russa got into a shouting match during the scrum. Both were ejected.
As Baker and La Russa were having their exchange, Cardinals pitcher Chris Carpenter yelled at Baker, who responded in kind. Judging from video footage, Reds third baseman Scott Rolen, a former Cardinal, came to Baker's defense and tried to push Carpenter away. The ensuing pileup stopped at the backstop behind home plate.
"It was two teams defending their own people, and standing up for their own players and managers and coaches, so ... that got ugly and obviously it was heated when it started," Rolen said.
Reds starting pitcher Johnny Cueto soon was pinned against the netting. He tried to kick way out, injuring Carpenter and Cardinals catcher Jason LaRue in the...
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And the Cardinals weren't shy about responding to Phillips' rant. The resulting exchange touched off a first-inning brawl in Game 2 of the NL Central rivals' series.
Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina made his feelings known when Phillips came to bat in the bottom of the first inning. Phillips tapped Molina's shin guard with his bat, a ritual Phillips performs before every at-bat. Molina took offense.
"The comment he made yesterday that he's got no friends over here — then why you touch me?" Molina told reporters after the Cardinals' 8-4 victory. "You are not my friend, so don't touch me. I mean, if we're no good for you, you are not my friend."
Molina's reaction sparked a heated exchange between the two at home plate. The benches and bullpens quickly emptied.
Reds manager Dusty Baker and Cardinals manager Tony La Russa got into a shouting match during the scrum. Both were ejected.
As Baker and La Russa were having their exchange, Cardinals pitcher Chris Carpenter yelled at Baker, who responded in kind. Judging from video footage, Reds third baseman Scott Rolen, a former Cardinal, came to Baker's defense and tried to push Carpenter away. The ensuing pileup stopped at the backstop behind home plate.
"It was two teams defending their own people, and standing up for their own players and managers and coaches, so ... that got ugly and obviously it was heated when it started," Rolen said.
Reds starting pitcher Johnny Cueto soon was pinned against the netting. He tried to kick way out, injuring Carpenter and Cardinals catcher Jason LaRue in the...
Read Complete Article at Latest Sporting News Articles for MLB
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