Atlanta Braves pitcher Reynaldo Lopez and Los Angeles Angels designated hitter Jorge Soler were ejected after a brawl Tuesday night and both players have been suspended for seven games. ESPN gave this information on Wednesday. Both López and Soler are appealing their suspensions.
Soler struck out Lopez in the first inning and then was hit by the right-hander’s 96 mph fastball in the next inning. In the fifth, Soler took the mound after Lopez threw a wild pitch high and inside that hit catcher Jonah Heim’s mitt.
First, Lopez raised his hands and the two glared at each other, before both began exchanging punches.
“I asked him if everything was OK and I didn’t like the answer he gave me,” Soler said through a translator. According to MLB.com. “That’s why I went there.”
The benches have been cleared in Anaheim 😮
When players from both teams tried to separate the two, the benches and bullpens became empty. Atlanta manager Walt Weis was among those who faced 2021 World Series MVP Soler with the Braves.
“I like Solar. We were teammates here,” Weiss said. “But he’s a big man, and so I felt I had to get him off his feet because he was going to hurt somebody. And so, that was my instinct, just to get in there and get George off his feet, yes, because he was on the war path.”
López was still holding the baseball when he punched Soler’s batting helmet.
The two were teammates in Atlanta during the second half of the 2024 season.
“It’s just a shame, the situation and how things turned out,” Lopez said through a translator, according to MLB.com. “On my part, there was no intention at any time to kill him. So, again, it’s just a shame.”
Atlanta led 4–2 when the match took place and won 7–2.
Soler’s two-run shot in the first gave him 14 for 23 with five homers and three doubles against Lopez.
“Obviously, I have good stats against him,” Soler said. “After the home run and then getting hit by the pitch, and then he missed very high and close to my head. At this level, you can’t miss like that.”
Weiss understood why Solar was mad.
“I know it wasn’t looking good because of Soler’s numbers against Lope (Lopez), and he hit a homer, he hit it. It wasn’t looking good,” Weiss said. “Lopey is not throwing the ball at him. I don’t allow our pitchers to throw at guys just because they can’t get them out. Our job is to get them out. But I understand why Soler got angry. And he’s a really gentle guy. So, I think the switch flipped for him.
Weiss said, “There was no intent there. I just think Lopes is just trying to throw out, because he had a lot of trouble taking her out. But he’s definitely not trying to kill her.”
López pitched 4 2/3 innings, allowing three hits with seven strikeouts and two walks.
“Obviously, the guy’s got good numbers from Lopez and he hits a homer in his first at-bat. Gets a wrist high in his second at-bat and then in the third, takes a good swing and then throws the next one high over the head. It wasn’t over his head, but it was coming over the head,” Angels manager Kurt Suzuki said.
Suzuki said, “I don’t blame George one bit. He went over there and words were exchanged and George walked out.” “You get thrown in over your head, you have a family, you have a career, you know, it’s dangerous. I know it’s part of the game. I know it happens.”
The Angels won 6-2 on Monday in the opener of a three-game series. At the very least, it can be said that Tuesday night’s game was more eventful.
“I’m sure that gets your juices flowing a little bit, on both teams,” Weiss said. “So, as long as nobody gets hurt, it’s a good time. But as long as nobody gets hurt. But yeah, I was proud of our guys for the way we handled everything tonight.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
