Rangers and Blue Jays Clear Benches in Epic BaseBRAWL!

To say there are left over tensions from last years MLB playoffs is an understatement. If there was any doubt the Texas Rangers and the Toronto Blue Jays didn't like each other before...that doubt is now gone.

During the game yesterday, tensions reached breaking point in the top part of the 8th inning. Rangers pitcher Matt Bush threw an inside fastball that connected with the ribs of Toronto power hitter Jose Bautista. The umpire immediately handed out a warning to both teams. Bautista was awarded first base and 2 batters later Justin Smoak grounds into what one can only assume is a routine double play. It was anything but.

Bautista was headed for second and slid intentionally late in efforts to take out Rougned Odor. Something Odor took exception to. Instead Odor got up, words were exchanged, a shove then it happened. Odor connected a right hook with Bautista's jaw...then both benches cleared.

It took a few minutes to get everyone off the field and back to playing but when the smoke cleared...Odor and Bautista were ejected and the play ended up ending the inning being called a double play anyway even though Odor didn't get the ball to first base. The MLB is trying to outlaw the late slide after the whole Chase Utley debacle that went down...that's another story all together. Anyway...watch for yourself.

Later in the inning, Rangers DH Prince Fielder was nailed in the leg with a pitch and both benches again cleared although it was much less eventful.