Call to the pen
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Cincinnati Reds, St. Louis Cardinals “brawl” feels like baseball again

By David Hill

Cincinnati Reds right fielder Nicholas Castellanos (2) catches a line drive off the bat of Cleveland Indians center fielder Bradley Zimmer (4) in the fourth inning of the MLB interleague game between the Cincinnati Reds and the Cleveland Indians at Great American Ball Park in downtown Cincinnati on Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2020.Cleveland Indians At Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds right fielder Nicholas Castellanos (2) catches a line drive off the bat of Cleveland Indians center fielder Bradley Zimmer (4) in the fourth inning of the MLB interleague game between the Cincinnati Reds and the Cleveland Indians at Great American Ball Park in downtown Cincinnati on Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2020.Cleveland Indians At Cincinnati Reds /
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Even though the 2021 season has begun, it still did not feel right. Maybe it was the continued use of the ghost runner on second to start extra innings, or how the Mets and Nationals series was canceled by COVID. Or maybe it was the distancing factor and how players really could not fraternize with each other. There is plenty of excitement about having a full regular season, but something just did not feel right.

The Cincinnati Reds and St. Louis Cardinals changed that on Saturday. With their benches clearing “brawl,” baseball feels like itself again.

Cincinnati Reds, St. Louis Cardinals make baseball feel right again

This all started in the bottom of the fourth inning. The Reds were leading 6-2 with two out when Jake Woodford hit Nicholas Castellanos with a pitch. A base hit and a walk loaded the bases when Woodford uncorked a wild pitch. Castellanos slid into home for another run just before the tag to give the Reds a 7-2 lead.Cincinnati Reds, St. Louis Cardinals “brawl” feels like baseball again

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That is when the real action began. Castellanos said something to Woodford before heading back to the dugout which angered the Cardinals. Yadier Molina attempted to go after the Reds’ outfielder before being held back. Benches cleared, and as is the norm, nothing actually happened. Castellanos was ejected, as to be expected, but that was the only real fallout.

Eventually, things settled down and the game continued. Woodford walked Mike Moustakas and hit Jonathan India with a pitch to force in another run, so his command was obviously shaky during the inning. Castellanos’ earlier ire seemed to be laughable given those command issues.

But in that moment, it felt as though baseball was truly back. Social distancing issues were forgotten about, and players were out there, standing up for their teammates once again. Yes, there were benches clearing incidents last year, notably when Ramon Laureano charged the Astros’ dugout, but it did not have the same feel. For whatever reason, this one felt as though baseball had truly returned.

Next. Previewing the 2021 Reds. dark

The Cincinnati Reds and St. Louis Cardinals benches clearing incident may not have been much, but in that moment, baseball truly returned.

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