A belated call for time, a pair of hit-by-pitches and a game-ending strikeout stretched across two days to produce atepid postgame incidentbetween theSan Francisco GiantsandCincinnati Reds.
Giants closer Erik Miller struck outReds rookie Sal Stewartto finish the team's3-0victory Thursday, April 16 at Great American Ball Park. The 6-5 lefty exulted and walked toward his own dugout. Stewart, though, apparently took issue with Miller's verbosity, turned and headed toward Miller.
Giants catcher Patrick Bailey interceded and Miller used the international symbol for "go back to your dugout" as the benches ambled out and bullpens jogged in out of curiosity.
"I just said a sentence that most hitters don't like to hear, so I can understand why he was upset," Miller said, per theBay Area News Group. "It was just more like I was really fired up. It wasn't anything personal."
The kerfuffle's roots sprang from a night earlier, when Giants reliever JT Brubaker got perturbed by a late timeout call from Reds slugger Spencer Steer as Brubaker prepared to deliver a pitch in the bottom of the seventh.
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Brubaker responded, in a sense, by waiting until the final second on the pitch clock to deliver his next pitch. That prompted Steer, captured by video cameras, to shout, "Throw the (expletive) ball." The Reds went on to win8-3.
GIANTS MANAGER ON FIGHT:It brings needed 'competitive edge'
A day later, Giants starter Landen Roupp, who took a no-hitter into the sixth, drilled Steer in the ribs in Steer's first at-bat of the game in the second inning. It was the only four-seam fastball Roupp threw all day. He later told reporters the pitch slipped.
In the eighth, Reds reliever Connor Phillips responded by drilling the Giants' Willy Adames in the leg with a pitch. Adames looked out at the pitcher; benches stirred, but weren't shaken. Phillips was ejected, to the mild objections of Reds manager Terry Francona.
And then, the game-ending drama, which resulted in Miller confined to the visiting dugout for postgame handshakes. Sadly, the relievers had to retreat to their bullpens, as they did not secure their belongings before jogging in for the postgame extracurriculars.
Across Major League Baseball, Jackie Robinson Day is observed as players take the field wearing the same number in recognition of his legacy.These images show moments from around the league as teams mark the occasion during regular‑season play.
Above, Simeon Woods Richardson #24 of the Minnesota Twins delivers a pitch against the Boston Red Sox in the second inning at Target Field on April 15, 2026, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. All players are wearing the number 42 in honor of Jackie Robinson Day. " style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />
Scenes from Jackie Robinson Day across the MLB
Across Major League Baseball,Jackie Robinson Dayis observed as players take the field wearing the same number in recognition of his legacy.These images show moments from around the league as teams mark the occasion during regular‑season play.Above, Simeon Woods Richardson #24 of the Minnesota Twins delivers a pitch against the Boston Red Sox in the second inning at Target Field on April 15, 2026, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. All players are wearing the number 42 in honor of Jackie Robinson Day.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Giants-Reds MLB brawl: Watch benches clear in Cincinnati