bench-clearing brawl between the Dayton Dragons and Peoria Chiefs tonight at Fifth Third Field halted play for an hour and 9 minutes. Th17 ejections that were handed down following the brawl, which lasted about 10 minutes. pitcher Julio Castillo then threw a pitch close to Brandon Menchaca's head which prompted Dayton manager Donnie Scott to leave the third base coaching box and complain to home plate umpire Tyler Wilson. That prompted interim Peoria manager Carmelo Martinez to join the conversation, which quickly became heated, and when Martinez pushed Scott, the benches emptied. Several fights broke out behind home plate, and Castillo threw a ball that sailed into the stands behind the Dragons' dugout, hitting a fan who had to be taken to a hospital. Menchaca jumped on Castillo and eventually both managers and 15 players — including eight Dragons — were ejected from the game. Those ejected from the Dragons were starting outfielders Justin Reed and Phipps, Kevin Feiner (who was taking the place of Cozart), starting catcher Devin Mesoraco and pitchers Henry Arias, Jeremy Horst, Jeff Jeffords and Luis Montano. Peoria lost five starters, including outfielders Brandon Guyer and Cliff Anderson, catcher Mario Mercedes, third baseman Jovan Rosa and Castillo as well as pitchers Steve Vento and Audy Santana. Within 45 minutes after the ejections were announced, they were reversed after the Class A Midwest League office heard what happened from the umpires. The ejections were reversed because the teams did not want pitchers to play the outfield positions, which would have occurred had the ejections stuck. The pitcher Castillo was arrested at the park and faces felonious assualt charges!!!!
Video from: youtube.com
