CINCINNATI – The Reds and Cardinals have fought several times over the years and renewed that part of the rivalry with an extended fight to eliminate the banks in the fourth round on Saturday.
Cincinnati was leading 6-2 when pitcher Jake Woodford punched Nick Castellanos with a quick ball to the shoulder. Castellanos expressed his dissatisfaction with Woodford and Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina, lifting the ball and offering it to the pitcher.
Later, in the half with Mike Moustakas, Woodford threw a wild pass that marked Castellanos from third base with a header. Woodford was covering the plate when the two came together. Castellanos got up and leaned over Woodford, which led Molina to defend his teammate.
That emptied both the excavations and the holes.
The calamity was fading, and both teams were returning to their side when Donnybrook was revived on the field after Cardinals relief Jordan Hicks pushed Reds shortstop Eugenio Suárez. The participants spilled on the grass, while Castellanos and Molina remained on the field, talking.
Castellanos was the only player expelled from the game. He was replaced by Aristides Aquino in the top of the fifth.
Back on Thursday, Castellanos trotted and overturned his bat after hitting an Opening Day homer against the books, Cincinnati chasing with six runs.
The two teams quarreled with infamy in 2010. Molina was in the middle of the moment when he and Brandon Phillips exchanged words on the home plate in front of a bat from the second base of the Reds.