Brawl breaks out between Rockies and Padres

DENVER – Tensions boiled over between the Colorado Rockies and the San Deigo Padres Wednesday afternoon, stemming from a series of hit batsmen on both teams.

In Tuesday night’s contest, Manuel Margot was plunked by Scott Oberg but everything from the nature of the pitch to the score of the game to Oberg’s conduct afterward—sharing a few words with the Padres coaching staff—suggested it was unintentional.

Still, with the announcement today that Margot would go on the DL with bruised ribs wasn’t likely to sit well with the away team this series.

Then, in the first inning on Wednesday afternoon, in an at-bat where giving Trevor Story a free pass would seem wise, he was hit high on the front shoulder. Again, it wasn’t obviously on purpose but the location can’t have pleased the Rockies and once German Marquez plunked Hunter Renfroe—who delivered the big blast in the previous game—the Coors Field faithful could feel a storm brewing.

On the very first pitch of the third inning, Padres pitcher Luis Perdomo threw a pitch behind Nolan Arenado’s head.

I’ve been covering Arenado since his debut in 2013 and have never seen him as heated as he was in reaction to the pitch, immediately spiking his helmet and charging the mound. A bench-clearing brawl quickly ensued that would see two Padres, the battery of AJ Ellis and Perdomo, and three Rockies ejected: Arenado, German Marquez, and Gerardo Parra.

The #Rockies and #Padres engaging in aggressive negotiations pic.twitter.com/lCdWqYzk86

— BSN Rockies (@BSNRockies) April 11, 2018

Nolan Arenado charges the mound after a pitch is thrown behind him. Benches clear in Colorado. pic.twitter.com/vKfMTNU5c1

— FOX Sports San Diego (@FOXSportsSD) April 11, 2018

We will update you on any long-term suspensions or fines as soon as we learn the details.