Two months. Three Braves bench-clearing incidents. The first-place Braves are turning the diamond into a ring.
Monday's extra curricular activity began with the Cubs voicing their displeasure with the strike zone during a Josh Donaldson at-bat in the top of the second inning.
The Cubs’ Willson Contreras stoked the fire after jawing Braves catcher Tyler Flowers following his solo shot off Julio Teheran.
Just two weeks earlier, the Braves and Pirates exchanged pleasantries when Donaldson (funny how he keeps coming up?) took exception to a high-and-tight pitch from Pittsburgh's Joe Musgrove.
Donaldson was tossed and suspended for the outburst. His suspension was reversed on appeal.
It's this feisty team's third bench-clearer this season. Braves starter Kevin Gausman was suspend five games for throwing at the Marlins' Jose Urena on May 3, causing a reunion near the mound.
Credit: Lynne Sladky
Credit: Lynne Sladky
None of these incidents, however, compare to Atlanta’s most epic bench-clearing moment.
In 1984, the Braves and Padres grew to punches on more than one occasion after multiple beanballs were thrown.
It got so chaotic, umps considering forfeiting the game. In all there were 14 ejections of players, managers and coaches, and a few fans who joined the fray at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium were dragged out in handcuffs.
Chief umpire John McSherry called the entire incident, "the worst thing I have ever seen in my life. It was pathetic, absolutely pathetic. It took baseball down 50 years."
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