VIDEO: Benches Clear in A’s-Rangers After Rafael Montero Drills Ramon Laureano
By Michael Luciano
AL West After Dark once again brought the fireworks, as the Texas Rangers and Oakland Athletics nearly came to fisticuffs following a controversial hit-by-pitch. After taking Rangers starter Adrian Sampson deep in the first innings and exchanging a few pleasantries in the aftermath, A's outfielder Ramon Laureano was drilled in the back by a Rafael Montero fastball. Benches emptied, but it appears as if no punches were thrown.
Montero kept throwing inside to Laureano and got him with a fastball on the fourth pitch pic.twitter.com/YzM4OdRNli
— Martín Gallegos (@MartinJGallegos) July 28, 2019
Laureano held a grudge against Sampson after he believed the opposing pitcher deliberately stepped on his bat--yeah, it's kind of a lame excuse--during a June 8 start. Tensions only came to a boil when Montero went rogue and beaned Laureano in the back.
Montero, making his return to the bigs after four unsavory years as a Met, and manager Chris Woodward, were ejected, as both benches were warned before Montero decided to go up and in to Laureano.
HP Umpire Sean Barber ejected Rangers pitcher Rafael Montero and Manager Chris Woodward (throwing at A's batter Ramon Laureano after warnings) in the bottom of the 8th inning of the Rangers-Athletics game. With two out and one on (R1), Laureano took a 2-… https://t.co/FnhWHUw4Rs pic.twitter.com/ToLMYJHboO
— UEFL (@UmpireEjections) July 28, 2019
The Rangers and A's are always good for a little extra-curricular activities, as these two will look for any excuse to get beanball started.