PITTSBURGH -- The St. Louis Cardinals and Pittsburgh Pirates got into a brief shoving match during batting practice Wednesday night, prompting the umpires to hold a pregame meeting with managers Tony La Russa and Lloyd McClendon.
It did not appear any punches were thrown during the four-minute scuffle, which occurred with the Pirates finishing up their hitting and the Cardinals stretching. St. Louis pitching coach Dave Duncan and Pittsburgh hitting coach Gerald Perry appeared to be restrained by teammates.
"There was some pushing and shoving, just two competitive clubs," McClendon said. "Both clubs want to win. Things probably got a little bit out of hand."
The Cardinals-Pirates series already had been a rough one before tempers flared. The previous two days, each team had a player injured.
McClendon and La Russa talked behind the batting cage for 10 minutes after the fray. They later met in an eight-minute, closed-door session requested by umpires.
Asked for a comment, La Russa said, "I have nothing to say. How's that for a comment?"
La Russa's Cardinals lead the NL Central and are 25 games ahead of the Pirates.
Pittsburgh second baseman Jose Castillo sustained a season-ending knee injury when he collided with Hector Luna while trying to turn a double play in the Cardinals' 3-1 win Monday. The Cardinals' So Taguchi wound up with a bruised hand when he was hit by a pitch from Jason Vogelsong in the ninth inning of Pittsburgh's 10-0 victory Tuesday.
"I'm sure there were some sensitive feelings as to whether or not some of their players were thrown at intentionally," McClendon said. "I think we got all that straightened out now."
McClendon said he also discussed the incident in a pregame meeting with his team.
AP NEWS
It did not appear any punches were thrown during the four-minute scuffle, which occurred with the Pirates finishing up their hitting and the Cardinals stretching. St. Louis pitching coach Dave Duncan and Pittsburgh hitting coach Gerald Perry appeared to be restrained by teammates.
"There was some pushing and shoving, just two competitive clubs," McClendon said. "Both clubs want to win. Things probably got a little bit out of hand."
The Cardinals-Pirates series already had been a rough one before tempers flared. The previous two days, each team had a player injured.
McClendon and La Russa talked behind the batting cage for 10 minutes after the fray. They later met in an eight-minute, closed-door session requested by umpires.
Asked for a comment, La Russa said, "I have nothing to say. How's that for a comment?"
La Russa's Cardinals lead the NL Central and are 25 games ahead of the Pirates.
Pittsburgh second baseman Jose Castillo sustained a season-ending knee injury when he collided with Hector Luna while trying to turn a double play in the Cardinals' 3-1 win Monday. The Cardinals' So Taguchi wound up with a bruised hand when he was hit by a pitch from Jason Vogelsong in the ninth inning of Pittsburgh's 10-0 victory Tuesday.
"I'm sure there were some sensitive feelings as to whether or not some of their players were thrown at intentionally," McClendon said. "I think we got all that straightened out now."
McClendon said he also discussed the incident in a pregame meeting with his team.
AP NEWS
Pirates coach Gerald Perry, manager LLoyd McClendon, and cards pitching coach got into it. I think Perry threw a punch at Duncan (no players involved)
it was caught on tape, sure it'll be sent to the commish's office.
both managers were called into the umpires office before the game.
i'm listening to the stl radio broadcast, they aren't saying much more than that
it was caught on tape, sure it'll be sent to the commish's office.
both managers were called into the umpires office before the game.
i'm listening to the stl radio broadcast, they aren't saying much more than that
there is video and audio of what occurred. Pitching coach Dave Duncan confronted manager Lloyd Mclendumb and was cussing him out for throwing at Cardinals players...few cusses were exchanged and they were in each others face. Duncan said if he has a problem to come to him..yada, yada, yada, when all of the sudden Gerald Perry comes up and sucker punches Duncan right in the face!! What a jackass...wasn't even involved in any of it and came out of nowhere to punch him in the face! He even ran away after he punched him! Duncan might have got a weak blow in on Mclendon...hard to tell from the video. I expect Morris to drill someone tomorrow!
