*Photo from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette*
The Cincinnati Reds and Pittsburgh Pirates season long tensions reached a new level Tuesday night with a massive brawl. The Pirates were leading 8-2 in the 7th inning, and Keone Kela was pitching to Reds pinch hitter Derek Dietrich. Kela's first pitch sailed up and in on Dietrich, and he was not pleased with that. By the time the 9th inning came around, tensions were about to boil over. While Amir Garrett was entering the game with the Pirates winning 11-3, the Pittsburgh dugout was talking to Garrett and saying some words that Garrett didn't like. He took exception to it, and promptly charged the Pirates dugout and the fight begun.
Yasiel Puig was ejected because of his role, in which he shoved various Pittsburgh players late in the fight. This happened as news broke of Puig being traded to the Cleveland Indians. Reds manager David Bell, who was ejected earlier in the game, returned to the field and participated in the brawl. Multiple punches were thrown and multiple players from both sides ejected.
Kela revealed postgame that he threw up and in on Dietrich intentionally. These teams last fought in May after Dietrich admired a long home run that he hit in Pittsburgh. Kela said that "The reason I went up-and-in was strictly, one, to show my intent with my pitch and to pretty much let Dietrich know that I didn't necessarily agree with the way things went down. Of course, people could say it was overdue." Dietrich responded by saying that "When you're getting suspended off your own team, I think that goes to show you what they think of you in your own clubhouse. I'm just speaking from what I know and the truth." Kela was suspended recently for violating his contract with the Pirates.
The teams don't have a very long time to cool off, as they play each other Wednesday afternoon. Pirates pitcher Joe Musgrove said that "I wouldn't be surprised if it sparks up again. We don't take lightly to what happened tonight and the way that they acted."
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