
Unlike many confrontations described as brawls in MLB, hands were thrown in Tuesdayâs game between the Atlanta Braves and Los Angeles Angels.
A fight broke out in the fifth inning between Braves pitcher Reynaldo LĂłpez and Angels designated hitter Jorge Soler, triggering a full clearing of the benches and bullpens. Tension had been brewing throughout the game, with Soler hitting a two-run homer in the first inning then getting hit by a 96 mph fastball in the third.
Tensions boiled over when LĂłpez threw a high fastball during Solerâs third plate appearance. The pitch was errant enough it gave the Angels a free stolen base, while Soler made a point of staring down LĂłpez during the play.
The former teammates were soon going after each other, with Soler eventually getting wrestled to the ground by some members of the Braves. Meanwhile, Angels star Mike Trout pushed LĂłpez out of the action.
Both combatants were ejected from the game.
CHAOS AT ANGEL STADIUM pic.twitter.com/yPbzghzanQ
â Dillard Barnhart (@BarnHasSpoken2) April 8, 2026
Another angle, showing how the staredown turned into fisticuffs:
Hereâs what just took place in Anaheim: pic.twitter.com/hL1myd5PJd
â BravesVision (@BravesVisionTV) April 8, 2026
There is a degree of familiarity on both sides, as LĂłpez used to play for the Angels and Soler used to play for the Braves. There was also familiarity in the sense that Solerâs homer was his fifth off LĂłpez, his most against any pitcher in his MLB career.
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