Cincinnati’s Derek Dietrich admired a home run off Chris Archer in the second inning, and two innings later the Pittsburgh Pirates starter threw a 93mph fastball behind Dietrich’s waist, setting off a brawl on Sunday that led to the ejections of four players and Reds manager David Bell.
Dietrich’s 436-foot drive to right-center gave the Reds a 2-1 lead. Dietrich dropped his bat and stood in the batter’s box and watched the ball clear the fence atop the Clemente Wall and bounce into the Allegheny River.
After Archer’s pitch went behind Dietrich leading off the fourth, plate umpire Jeff Kellogg warned both benches. Bell jogged from the dugout to the infield, arguing Archer should have been ejected. Players from both dugouts and bullpens followed, and Reds outfielder Yasiel Puig grabbed Pirates bench coach Tom Prince in a headlock. Pirates closer Felipe Vazquez and set-up man Keone Kela were also in the middle of the fray.
Bell, Kela, Puig and Vazquez were ejected, as was Reds reliever Amir Garrett. Matt Kemp replaced Puig, and Archer was allowed to remain in the game.