Major League Baseball suspended Atlanta Braves pitcher Reynaldo López and Los Angeles Angels outfielder Jorge Soler for seven games each following a benches-clearing incident during Tuesday night's game at Angel Stadium. Both players received undisclosed fines, with López settling his appeal for a five-game ban effective immediately while Soler appeals his penalty. The clash stemmed from a high pitch after Soler homered and was hit by a pitch earlier.
The incident unfolded in the bottom of the fifth inning of the Braves' 7-2 victory over the Angels. Soler had homered off López in his first at-bat and was plunked by a 96 mph fastball in the third. After López's pitch sailed high and to the backstop, Soler stared down the pitcher before charging the mound, leading to an exchange of punches. Both players were ejected as benches cleared along the first-base line, though no other punches connected solidly. Braves manager Walt Weiss tackled Soler to de-escalate the scrum, later saying he aimed to get the big hitter off his feet to prevent injuries, adding, 'I love Soler. We were teammates here.'
