The Blue Jays and Rangers got into a bench-clearing brawl in their game Sunday.
But this wasn't just any brawl. The backstory makes it much more interesting.
Sunday's fight technically started after Jose Bautista, who was hit by a pitch from the Rangers' Matt Bush, slid hard (and now illegally) into second base trying to break up a double play (and get a little revenge) and got punched in the face by Rougned Odor. But it's clear there's still bad blood from the teams' 2015 ALDS matchup and Bautista's exuberant bat flip that set the baseball world ablaze with renewed debates on unwritten rules and making baseball fun again.
MORE: John Gibbons: Rangers 'gutless' for throwing at Bautista
So it's quite possible that fueled Odor's perfect punch to Bautista's face more than the hard slide.
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The Rangers got the last word by beating the Blue Jays 7-6. That doesn't mean this is over for good, though. But unless the teams meet again in the postseason, they won't play each other again until next season.
Blue Jays pitcher Marcus Stroman wasn't even on site but still chimed in.
Zero respect for Odor. Never had respect for him, never will.
— Marcus Stroman (@MStrooo6) May 15, 2016
Bautista also weighed in on the punch after the game.
Bautista said he was surprised by Odor's punch. “That’s the only reason why he got me and he got me pretty good so I have to give him that.”
— Brendan Kennedy (@BKennedyStar) May 15, 2016
Six players and coaches were ejected as a result of the brawl, per MLB: Odor, Bautista, Rangers coach Steve Buechele, Josh Donaldson and Blue Jays coach DeMarlo Hale. Jays pitcher Jesse Chavez was later ejected in the bottom of the eighth after hitting the Rangers' Prince Fielder.
