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The Seattle Mariners and Los Angeles Angels went head-to-head after a fastball body hit
Photo: Ronald Martinez/Getty Images
A major league altercation at the game between the Los Angeles Angels and the Seattle Mariners has resulted in the disqualification of six players, as well as Mariners coach Scott Servais and Angels interim manager Phil Nevin.
Overall, the game at Angels Stadium in Anaheim had to be interrupted for 23 minutes.
Tensions had already arisen in the duel between the two opponents on Saturday, when Mariners pitcher Erik Swanson narrowly missed Angels pro Mike Trout with a fastball at head height.
Hostilities continued to build up on Sunday: Angels pitcher Andrew Wantz threw the ball just wide of Seattle's Julio Rodriguez's head in the first inning, and an inning later Wantz hit Seattle's batsman Jesse Winker with a 90 mph throw on the ball right hip.
Violation of rules and etiquette
Deliberate throws at the batsman are forbidden and frowned upon in baseball, not least because of the risk of injury at the high throw speeds.
A so-called "beanball", the term for a head hit, is usually even punished with a direct reprimand.
However, the 2-minute suspensions between Angels and Mariners only came after Winker prepared to attack Wantz - and as a result the benches emptied, the players from the two teams rushed at each other and there was a mass brawl.
In addition to Wantz and Winker and the two coaches, the Angels Raisel Iglesias and Ryan Tepera, the Mariners Rodriguez and JP Crawford were dismissed.
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