CINCINNATI (AP) -- Both benches and bullpens cleared and there was some shoving after Cincinnati's Brandon Phillips was hit by a pitch by Pittsburgh left-hander Tony Watson in the eighth inning on Sunday.
The Pirates were leading 3-0 when Reds reliever Pedro Villareal hit All-Star center fielder Andrew McCutchen in the top of the inning. Watson appeared to retaliate by hitting Phillips in the bottom of the inning, prompting both teams to leave their dugouts and bullpens and gather between the mound and the plate.
No punches were thrown, but the altercation rekindled twice before order was restored. Pirates first baseman Sean Rodriguez and Cincinnati Reds first baseman Joey Votto were ejected.
The teams have a history of hitting each other's batters over the last couple of years.
