MILWAUKEE (AP) — Willy Adames hit a three-run homer and the Milwaukee Brewers beat the Tampa Bay Rays 8-2 on Tuesday night in a game that included a nasty fight between the teams.
The fracas ensued after Jose Siri grounded out against Brewers pitcher Abner Uribe leading off the eighth inning. Uribe and Siri exchanged words near first base and things quickly became heated.
With an umpire standing between them trying to keep the peace, Uribe threw a punch at Siri, who then took a wild swing at the reliever.
Milwaukee first baseman Rhys Hoskins tried to break up the fight but was knocked to the ground as both dugouts and bullpens emptied quickly before order was restored.
“I don’t know who said something first but I saw them talking to each other somewhat discreetly and then off it went,” Hoskins said.
Siri claimed Uribe escalated the exchange with a shoulder bump. Uribe said it began with some “unnecessary” words from Siri.
The animosity between Siri and the Brewers had been building all night, starting when he took a long look at his solo home run off Freddy Peralta in the third.
When Siri came up again in the sixth, Peralta drilled him with a 3-0 fastball, leading to ejections for Peralta and Milwaukee manager Pat Murphy.
It was the second consecutive ejection for Murphy, thrown out of Monday’s game against the Rays for arguing an umpire’s call.
Adames drove in four runs and Brice Turang had three RBIs as the Brewers snapped their three-game losing streak.
“That was a great win for our club,” Murphy said. “We had some tough ones lately. They came out focused and Freddy was great.”
Peralta (3-0) struck out seven and walked none in 5 1/3 innings. The only hit he allowed was Siri’s home run.
Tampa Bay starter Tyler Alexander (1-1) gave up three runs and six hits in four innings.
“I was proud of Tyler,” Rays manager Kevin Cash said. “I don’t think he had his best stuff — it was pretty apparent early on — but he kind of gutted through four innings.”
Tyler Black made the most of his big league debut for the Brewers by getting hits in each of his first two plate appearances. Then he came within a few feet of his first career home run his third time up.
Black wasn’t in Milwaukee’s starting lineup but he didn’t have to wait long to make his debut. The Brewers’ No. 4 overall prospect entered as a pinch runner in the first inning after designated hitter Gary Sánchez tweaked his hamstring running to first on a fielder’s choice.
“It was just a thrill to be a part of that and see what he does,” Murphy said. “He had a great first night.”
TRAINER’S ROOM
Murphy said Sánchez was walking around after the game but will undergo an MRI on Wednesday to determine the severity of his hamstring injury.
UP NEXT
Brewers RHP Colin Rea (2-0, 3.25 ERA) starts the series finale Wednesday against RHP Zach Eflin (1-3, 4.08).
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