Tensions ran high during the third inning of the matchup between the Houston Astros and Los Angeles Angels in Anaheim on Friday.
On the very first pitch, Astros ace Hunter Brown came close to hitting Zach Neto with his sinker, who fouled it off for a check swing on an inside pitch. Little did he know that another 95 mph sinker was coming in to get a piece of him. Of course, Neto took an excuse with that.
As soon as Brown's pitch hit him, Neto was riled up. He was allegedly heard saying: "That's twice." It may very well mean that Brown was trying to hit him through his pitch for the second time in the same at-bat. Or he could also be referencing the past when Brown hit Neto with his nasty pitch last season.
Benches clear in Anaheim after Hunter Brown hits Zach Neto pic.twitter.com/Qv0D6V0JsA
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Brown was not happy with Neto's gesture as he also started escalating the situation. Seeing this unfold, home plate umpire John Libka and Astros catcher Yainer Diaz tried to defuse the situation in the middle.
In the meantime, the benches saw this as an excuse to come out and make things tense. Interestingly, no ejections and possibly no warnings were given to either player.
Following this incident, Neto advanced to second base on Mike Trout's single, but Hunter Brown left the inning without giving up any runs to keep the Astros' 2-0 lead intact.
Jo Adell would hit a home run off Brown in the fourth inning and Angels rookie Christian Moore also came to party with a solo shot of his own (first of his MLB career) in the seventh inning to tie the game 2-2.
The game has gone to extra innings after things remained tied by the end of the ninth inning.