Benches clear on final out of 6-0 MLB game after controversial slide
There wasn’t much drama during the Angels’ 6-0 win over the Rangers on Friday until the final play of the game.
With Rougned Odor on first (the bases were loaded with one out in the top of the ninth), the Rangers’ Ronald Guzman hit into what appeared to be a routine double play.
But upon closer look, when Odor slid into second in an attempt to break up the double play, he broke one of baseball’s unwritten rules by coming in spikes high and made contact with shortstop Andrelton Simmons.
Despite Odor’s best efforts, the Angels were able to complete the double play and win the game.
In case you missed it the first time, here’s what happened on that final play.
Here’s what got Andrelton Simmons hot:
Look at how far off the bag at second base Rougned Odor gets to clip Simmons. #Angels #Rangers pic.twitter.com/QWJNpQl5QU
— Fabian Ardaya (@FabianArdaya) June 2, 2018
Odor clearly clipped Simmons’ leg and left a “nasty gash,” according to Angels manager Mike Scioscia.
Simmons then pushed Odor in retaliation for what he deemed to be a dirty slide, and that led to the benches clearing at the conclusion of the game.
For his part, Odor didn’t seem to think he did anything wrong.
“He pushed me,” Odor told reporters after the game, per ESPN. “I was surprised because I made a good slide. It was not a dirty slide. I tried to break up the double play with a good slide. That’s why I was surprised he pushed me like that.”
“He was angry, but I was like, ‘What are you talking about?’ I made a good slide. It was not dirty. (Ian) Kinsler was talking to me too, and he was fine. This is part of the game.”
Simmons, who is considered one of the best fielders on baseball, has won five straight Fielding Bible Awards and three total Gold Glove Awards. He said he rarely ever gets spiked due to his positioning when turning a double play.
“When I get out of the way, I’m normally pretty good, so I don’t have a problem normally,” Simmons said.
This wasn’t Odor’s first dust-up at second base, but last time around, he was on the receiving end of a dirty slide.
Two years ago, Jose Bautista slid aggressively into second while Odor was trying to turn two. Odor reacted by punching Bautista in the face.
On this date, Rougned Odor and Jose Bautista threw haymakers. pic.twitter.com/oAJ9YGrIxm
— ESPN (@espn) May 15, 2018
Fortunately, this time around, things didn’t turn physical and Simmons said he would likely be good to go for Saturday’s game.
“I’m gonna eat my gelato and sleep well at night,” he said.
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