Eastern League (MiLB) Rumble Ponies & Sea Dogs Fight

The usually-family friendly confines of Hadlock Field in Portland, Maine turned into Fight Night at Fenway as Boston's Double-A Eastern League affiliate Sea Dogs squared off against New York (Mets) MiLB Binghamton Rumble Ponies following a hit-by-pitch in the bottom of the 3rd inning.

With two out and the bases loaded, Binghamton pitcher Marcel Renteria hit Sea Dogs batter Tyreque Reed with a 1-2 pitch to force in a run. Immediately after HP Umpire Tyler Witte called "Time" and signaled the hit-by-pitch, Renteria began arguing and gesturing at Witte, perhaps claiming the pitch hit the bat instead.

While all of this was happening, hit batsman Reed became embroiled in a confrontation with the Ponies' bench, resulting in a benches-clearing brawl, with punches thrown from both sides and at least one uniformed person appearing to kick an opponent who was on the ground.

After the dust cleared, DH Reed was ejected and P Renteria was replaced; the box score does not indicate an ejection for Renteria, but that wouldn't exactly have been out of the question, either. Earlier in the inning, Rumble Ponies batter Brett Baty had been ejected for arguing a called third strike.

Remember, as umpires our job is to back away once a massive melee breaks out and observe the fight for potential aggressors. Whereas at lower levels, for instance, any player leaving the bench during a fight (whether or not they actually participate) should be ejected as an automatic rule, at the professional level, only primary aggressors as well as those who are observed battering an opponent by throwing a punch or, in this brawl, kicking a downed foe, should be tossed as well. | Video as follows:

Alternate Link: My Little Rumble Ponies fight Sea Dogs after MiLB HBP in Portland (POR)