ARLINGTON, Tex. — It wasn’t a matter of if, but when.
Sunday’s series finale between the Texas Rangers and the Blue Jays erupted into a wild brawl in the eighth inning after Jose Bautista went into second with a hard slide that disrupted second baseman Rougned Odor’s throw to first base, trying to complete a double play.
Moments earlier, Bautista had been plunked in the ribs by hard-throwing pitcher Matt Bush as possible payback for his bat flip during last year’s playoffs. After the slide, Odor leaped to his feet, pushed Bautista in the chest then punched him in the mouth with a hard right hand as the benches emptied.
A general brawl ensued and it was about 10 minutes before order was restored.
There was absolutely no doubt that fireworks were in the plan this weekend between the Blue Jays and Texas Rangers, given the bad blood that has been percolating since Toronto’s Game 5 victory in last autumn’s American League Division Series.
The Bautista home run bat flip prompted multiple threats by the Rangers. Nothing happened in the first series between these two in Toronto, but with the season series winding down and the Rangers in front 7-6, time was short for retribution.
After the melee settled down, Bautista and Josh Donaldson were ejected, along with Odor and Texas bench coach Steve Buechele.
In the bottom of the eighth, Toronto pitcher Jesse Chavez hit Prince Fielder with the first pitch of the inning and was immediately ejected, along with interim Toronto manager DeMarlo Hale. Toronto manager John Gibbons had been ejected earlier in the game for arguing balls and strikes.
Both benches emptied again but none of the players off the bench actually crossed the white lines onto the field.
The loss for the Blue jays sends them back home this week after a 3-3 road trip.
The Blue Jays seemed to have Sunday’s game well in hand, leading 6-3 after scoring four runs in the sixth to overcome an early 2-1 Texas lead. But the Rangers erupted for four runs in the seventh to grab the lead and set the stage for the grudge to be settled in the eighth. The two teams do not play each other again during the regular season.
Mitch Moreland doubled to lead off the Rangers’ seventh inning, then went to third on an Elvis Andrus single. The Blue Jays happily traded a run for a double play ball hit by Ryan Rua, but the Rangers persisted. Jays starter Aaron Sanchez walked Bryan Holaday, then Odor singled. That was it for Sanchez, who handed the ball to Chavez.
Ian Desmond came to the plate and moment later, Chavez hung a curve ball that Desmond hammered into the seats in left field for a three-run shot to give them the lead.