Cue Ron Burgundy: Boy, that escalated quickly.
It was only the top of the first inning during Thursday’s game between the Cardinals and Cubs when things got mighty testy between the two longtime division rivals. The trouble started when Chicago outfielder Ian Happ’s bat hit St. Louis catcher Willson Contreras in the head on his follow-through, forcing Contreras out of the game. Two pitches later, Cardinals pitcher Miles Mikolas plunked Happ in the hip area.
Happ appeared to know what was coming, as it looked like he was preparing for impact before the pitch was even delivered. The umpires briefly convened on the infield grass and, rather than issue both teams warnings for the bubbling conflict, opted to eject Mikolas directly.
