Venezuelan League brawl starts with pitch behind hitter, who tries to strike catcher with bat
The Caribes de Anzoategui had just put 12 runs on the board over the last two frames, taking a 13-1 lead over the Aguilas de Zulia as they took the field in the top of the eighth of a Venezuelan League baseball game.
Caribes manager Jackson Melian and two Aguilas players had already been ejected the previous inning after Caribes shortstop Cesar Valera was hit by a pitch.
Aguilas right fielder Alex Romero worked a 3-0 count on Caribes reliever Angel Nesbitt, who threw behind Romero. Catcher Gabriel Lino immediately removed his helmet in preparation for a tussle, and Romero wound up his bat like he was going to swing it at Lino.
Romero, who had 299 plate appearances across two seasons for the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2008 and 2009, made contact with Lino twice in the back, while the catcher threw his glove at Romero's head. Both teams' benches poured onto the field and the struggle migrated toward the third-base side of the field.
Nesbitt, Lino, Romero and Valera were all ejected, as were Minnesota Twins catcher Willians Astudillo (Caribes first baseman) and Caribes pitcher Luis Rengel.
The Aguilas added a run in the eighth after all of the chaos to lose 13-2.