Getty; Photo by: Tim Nwachukwu
MLB

Benches Clear After Rays Reliever Edwin Uceta Hit Phillies' Nick Castellanos With A 96 MPH Pitch Out Of Frustration: 'That's Like My 2-Year-Old Throwing A Fit'

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The Tampa Bay Rays and Philadelphia Phillies were tied 4-4 in the bottom of the 8th inning, as pitcher Edwin Uceta came in for relief and subsequently allowed five runs to score before hitting Nick Castellanos with a 96 mph pitch.

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In view of how it all unfolded, Uceta gave up a two-run double to the first batter he faced, Cal Stevenson, then Buddy Kennedy hit a RBI single, next Trea Turner hit a two-run home run, while Bryce Harper doubled. That is when Castellanos stepped up to the plate and drama ensued.

All in all, Uceta's pitch wasn't near the plate as he threw the ball right at the hip of the Phillies outfielder. Since it was seemingly done intentionally, this led to both teams' benches and bullpens emptying, with all the players clashing on the infield grass as tempers flared.

"I had an overwhelming sense that I was about to get drilled," Castellanos said in the postgame interview. "We all just got a sense of what it was, he was just [ticked] off that he got hit around and his ERA shot through the roof."

To point out, other Phillies teammates also seemed to believe that Uceta, who entered tonight's game with a 0.79 ERA, was upset over his stats being compromised by letting up so many runs. After only getting one out and giving up four hits, three earned runs, along with hitting a batter, Uceta was removed from the game, as his ERA has now nearly doubled, currently sitting at 1.49.

"You're frustrated and you're going to throw at somebody," Castellanos commented. "That's like my 2-year-old throwing a fit because I took away his dessert before he was finished."

Right after it happened, Harper, who was on second base, rushed the mound to stick up for his teammate. After the game he spoke up about Uceta's actions, citing there is no place in baseball for this type of stuff.

"That's not the game that we play, man," Harper said. "It shouldn't be. Guys throw too hard nowadays. You're getting mad because a guy hits a homer off you or you blow the lead, walk the guy and come out of the game."

He continued, "The situation, the whole thing, just really fired me up, really upset me. Just not something you should accept as Major League Baseball."

Uceta also spoke on what took place, saying he hit Castellanos by accident, while claiming it was a changeup. However, according to the MLB statcast, the pitch was clocked at 96 mph and was identified as a sinker.

The final score remained 9-4 as Harper went 4-for-5 with three doubles, while Castellanos reached base only once this game, which was from the hit-by-pitch.

Some fans noted the timing of when this happened, as Castellanos was plunked just minutes into the 2024 Donald Trump vs. Kamala Harris Presidential debate.

Notably, this adds yet another event to the list of Castellanos doing something during big moments.

Related: Phillies' Nick Castellanos Has Heated Exchange With Umpire: 'F—-ing Speak Up'

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