MLB 2020 brawl video: Houston Astros, Oakland Athletics clear benches
Multiple bans are expected to be handed out after benches cleared in this crazy all-in brawl — triggered by a “completely offensive” comment.
MLB
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The Athletics and Astros have engaged in a bench-clearing brawl that defied Major League Baseball’s coronavirus protocols and will likely lead to multiple suspensions.
Athletics outfielder Ramon Laureano, who had taken first base after being plunked for the second time in the game, charged the Houston dugout to spark the fight on Monday morning (AEST).
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Laureano first barked at Astros reliever Humberto Castellanos before engaging in a screaming match with the Astros dugout. Houston bench coach Alex Cintron then appeared to egg on the 26-year-old Laureano, waving for Laureano to approach the Astros road dugout that is unusually located along the first-base line.
“Ramon doesn’t go over there unless something completely offensive came out of that dugout. That person should get suspended,” Athletics manager Bob Melvin told reporters after his team won, 7-2, in Oakland, California.
Laureano was quickly wrestled to the ground by back-up catcher Dustin Garneau and tensions soared for a few minutes.
Laureano and several others weren’t wearing masks; however, MLB does not require players on the field to wear face coverings aimed at preventing the spread of COVID-19.
“I was just trying to stop the situation before punches were really thrown and things got out of hand,” said Garneau, who called Laureano a “good dude.” The two previously played together within the A’s organisation.
Laureano was ejected, while Castellanos was later taken out of the game. Astros pitcher Brandon Bailey hit Laureano earlier in the game.
“[Laureano] got hit by two guys who don’t have any time in the big leagues,” Astros manager Dusty Baker said in defending his pitchers. “[Castellanos] wasn’t trying to hit him.”
MLB, as part of its coronavirus protocols that were recently heightened in response to the Marlins and Cardinals’ outbreaks, prohibits teams from engaging in bench-clearing brawls.
The Astros earlier this season were involved in a bench-clearing incident after two of their players were thrown at by Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Joe Kelly, in what many believed was payback for the Houston cheating scandal that was uncovered in the fall.
That confrontation was short-lived and did not include punches being thrown.
Even so, Kelly was suspended eight games during the 60-game season, the equivalent of 22 games during a 162-game season, while Baker and Dodgers skipper Dave Roberts were suspended one game each.
Laureano charges the Astros dugout and the brawl breaks out pic.twitter.com/CQ2K8kFnlb
— A's on NBCS (@NBCSAthletics) August 9, 2020
Athletics pitcher and former Astros hurler Mike Fiers in the fall served as the whistleblower in the Astros’ cheating scandal, which involved stealing signs electronically during Houston’s 2017 championship season and parts of 2018.
Fiers was not scheduled to pitch in this series, and he has largely avoided questions about the fallout of the scandal, which resulted in MLB suspending Astros manager A.J. Hinch and general manager Jeff Luhnow for one year each.
Both were subsequently fired by the organisation. Alex Cora, a Houston bench coach in 2017, was fired by the Red Sox for his involvement in the scheme, while the Mets fired Carlos Beltran before he even managed a game because of his involvement as a player.
The Astros (6-9) have struggled so far during the abbreviated season and are currently third in the AL West. The Athletics (12-4) are first in the division.
Originally published as MLB 2020 brawl video: Houston Astros, Oakland Athletics clear benches