© Gary A. Vasquez | USA Today
Giants manager Bruce Bochy has been around long enough to see his fair share of spats between the Giants and Los Angeles Dodgers. It’s a rivalry that promises tension and often affects playoff standings late in the season.
But no matter how many times you see tensions flare between rivals, not everything makes sense.
When Nick Hundley and Yasiel Puig got into a benches-clearing scuffle tonight, both players were ejected. Puig initiated the contact by shoving Hundley twice before chasing after him and landing a blow to his face.
Both players had to be restrained by teammates and coaches. Despite Bochy’s pleas to the umpires, Hundley was forced to leave the game. It required Bochy to put a recently-activated Brandon Belt at first base and move Buster Posey to catcher. After the game, Bochy made no mistake about his feelings on the decision.
Bochy on Hundley getting ejected: “I don’t get it, either. We’ll see what the (umpires) report says. You’re going to defend yourself.”
— Alex Pavlovic (@PavlovicNBCS) August 15, 2018
According to Fabian Ardaya, home-plate umpire and crew chief Eric Cooper responded with almost identical statements on why Puig and Hundley were ejected.
Home-plate umpire and crew chief Eric Cooper on what specifically warranted Yasiel Puig’s ejection:
“Watch the tape. You’ll see why he had to be ejected.”
And for Nick Hundley:
“There was no delay. Watch the tape. You’ll see why he had to be ejected.”
— Fabian Ardaya (@FabianArdaya) August 15, 2018
According to Pedro Moura, Puig responded after the game saying that both he and Hundley deserved the same treatment.
Yasiel Puig, asked if he expects to be suspended: “If they suspend me, I think they have to suspend him. I’m just going to let my agent do his job.”
— Pedro Moura (@pedromoura) August 15, 2018
Hundley declined to say what he said to Puig, according to Alex Pavlovic.
Hundley wouldn’t comment on what he said to Puig. “That stuff that’s said on the field, that will be left out there.”
— Alex Pavlovic (@PavlovicNBCS) August 15, 2018
