The Philadelphia Phillies' Tuesday night game against the Tampa Bay Rays had a little bit of everything, including a bench-clearing incident in the bottom of the eighth inning. After Kyle Schwarber hit his MLB-record 14th leadoff home run of the season and then later left the game with an injury, things got out of hand in the eighth inning.
Phillies-Rays benches clear after offensive outburst puts Castellanos in line of fire
Tempers flared after the Phillies blew the game wide open with five runs in the inning, putting what had been a 4-4 game out of reach in a hurry. The Phillies sent 10 batters to the plate in the bat-around frame. The offensive outburst included a two-run double from Cal Stevenson, an RBI single from Buddy Kennedy and was capped by a Trea Turner two-run home run (his second long ball of the game).
With the Phillies up 9-4 and the crowd at Citizens Bank Park rocking, Rays reliever Edwin Uceta, who had given up all five runs (only three were charged to him) on four hits while recording just one out, plunked Nick Castellanos on the backside in one of the most obvious intentional hit-by-pitches you'll ever see.
Benches clear in Philadelphia between the Phillies and the Rays. pic.twitter.com/KkdmS9AmZS
— MLB (@MLB) September 11, 2024
Castellanos immediately took issue with the right-hander's poor sportsmanship and yelled out at the Uceta. Phillies first baseman, Bryce Harper, who was standing at second base after his fourth hit, and third double, of the night went ballistic and charged in toward the mound as Castellanos approached Uceta from the front.
Both benches quickly cleared with the bullpens running in to join the melee in the middle of the infield. Nothing came of the incident, save for some jawing and words exchanged. Uceta was rightfully ejected and both dugouts were issued warnings. The Rays, who are used to being competitive every year in the AL East, are struggling along at the .500 mark this year and got shown up by the best team in baseball.
Phillies TV analyst John Kruk summed up Uceta's and the Rays' problem after order had been restored and play was ready to resume.
"If you're tired of getting beat, play better," Kruk said in his matter-of-fact manner. "It's not Nick Castellanos' fault you just gave up five runs."