The Houston Astros are trying to put their poster-stealing scandal behind them, but it seems like the Los Angeles Dodgers have their own thoughts about it.
The benches were cleared Tuesday night during the Dodgers’ 5-2 victory over the Astros in the first game between the teams, as it was revealed that Houston stole posters en route to a 2017 World Series championship that came at the expense of Los Angeles.
The fights occurred after Dodgers reliever Joe Kelly threw high, narrow pitches to Astros stars Alex Bregman and Carlos Correa in the sixth inning.
“The balls leak sometimes, but not a lot in the big leagues,” said Houston manager Dusty Baker. “When you throw a 3-0 fastball over a guy’s head, you’re flirting with finishing his career.”
The Dodgers had a 5-2 lead after a fifth of five runs when Kelly, who was with Boston in 2017 and also faced Houston that postseason, threw Bregman for the ball four. Bregman grimaced after jumping to avoid being hit, then jogged to first base.
There were two outs in the inning when Kelly threw an erratic ball over Correa’s head. Correa, who hit a home run and finished with three hits, took off his batting helmet and looked at Kelly before continuing the at-bat.
Kelly hit Correa, then stuck her tongue out and grimaced in his direction. Correa started walking towards him and the players exchanged words, causing the banks to clear in the first incident of this season delayed by the pandemic. There was a lot of yelling and crowding, which are prohibited when MLB tries to play a season in the midst of the pandemic, but there was no pushing or hitting.
Baker said things really got out of control because of something he said Kelly said to Correa after the strikeout.
“What really angered everyone … is when he said, ‘Nice swing, bitch,'” Baker said. “What are you supposed to do then?”
Baker was asked if the Astros said anything to provoke Kelly.
“We didn’t say anything,” he said. “We didn’t start anything. But we don’t take anything either. “
Kelly denied deliberately pitching to the Astros. He was asked if there was any additional motivation on Tuesday since his Red Sox team lost to Houston in the 2017 American League Division Series.
“No. When I was with the Red Sox we beat them in ’18,” he said. “It’s one of those things that I throw competitively. With no fans here, it’s easy to hear a few things. [from the opposing dugout] … there is something that they apparently did not consider too kind. “
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts was unsure whether Kelly’s errant pitches were retaliatory for the Houston cheating.
“I really don’t know, to be honest,” he said. “I know he got behind Bregman 3-0 and lost a fastball. I really don’t think there is any intention behind that. I think those boys were a little offended. Even Correa’s, that was a breakout ball that just fell back.
“Obviously the expectation in the series that things escalated maybe a little bit, I don’t know if it’s prematurely the word, but that’s what happened.”
Houston was punished by the commissioners’ office in January for the cartel theft scheme, which led to the firing of general manager Jeff Luhnow and manager AJ Hinch. But many league players were not happy that no player was disciplined for their role in the deception.
