CINCINNATI (AP) — Nick Castellanos stood over, flexed, and jawed at St. Louis pitcher Jake Woodford after scoring, setting off a series of scuffles that included relievers shoving in the outfield as the Cincinnati Reds beat the Cardinals 9-6. The dustup began after Castellanos scored on a wild pitch and then got in the face of Woodford, who had plunked him. Catcher Yadier Molina took exception, grabbed Castellanos and it escalated from there. Castellanos was the only player ejected. Aristides Aquino replaced Castellanos and homered. Tucker Barnhart also connected and Tyler Mahle pitched five strong innings for the win. Cardinals starter Adam Wainwright was chased in the third.
Also on MLB fields:
— Justin Upton’s homer capped a three-run rally in the eighth inning and the Los Angeles Angels, helped by a flyball that bounced off the head of White Sox center fielder Luis Robert, beat hot-hitting Yermín Mercedes and Chicago 5-3. Mercedes homered, doubled, and singled to become the first player since at least 1900 to begin a season with eight straight hits. The 28-year-old rookie flew out in his final at-bat, ending the streak. The Angels trailed 3-2 going into the eighth. Anthony Rendon singled with one out and scored the tying run on Jared Walsh’s triple. Upton then homered off Evan Marshall.
— Ty Buttrey has decided to retire from baseball, saying his love for the game has diminished. The 28-year-old right-hander was one of the key pieces of the Angels’ bullpen the past three seasons, but he struggled with control problems during spring training and was optioned to the team’s alternate training site.
— Pirates third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes left Saturday’s game against the Cubs with discomfort in his left wrist. Hayes walked and scored on Kevin Newman’s two-out single in the first inning, but he jammed his left hand diving back to first on a pickoff attempt.
— Twins third baseman Josh Donaldson is on the 10-day injured list with a mild right hamstring strain. The move comes two days after he appeared to hurt himself running the bases on a double in the first inning of the Twins’ season-opener against the Brewers.
— Marlins right-hander Elieser Hernandez left their game against Tampa Bay on Saturday with inflammation in his right biceps tendon. Hernandez struck out Rich Hill for the first out of the third before he was visited by manager Don Mattingly and pitching coach Mel Stottleyre Jr., along with a trainer.
