Philadelphia Phillies stars Nick Castellanos and Bryce Harper didn’t hold back their frustration after a tense moment with Tampa Bay Rays relief pitcher Edwin Uceta during Tuesday’s 9-4 Phillies victory at Citizens Bank Park. The altercation, which cleared both benches, escalated after Uceta hit Castellanos with a 96-MPH sinker, seemingly out of frustration.
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What Led to the Incident?
Uceta entered the game in the eighth inning with the Rays trailing 7-3 and quickly lost control. After giving up a two-run double, an RBI single, and a two-run homer, he then surrendered a double to Bryce Harper. On the very next pitch, Uceta plunked Castellanos, sparking an immediate reaction from the Phillies’ dugout.
Castellanos, visibly upset, threw his hands up and shouted at Uceta. Harper, already on second base, advanced toward Uceta, but was intercepted by two Rays players before things escalated further. Both benches cleared, but no punches were thrown.
Post-Game Reactions: Castellanos and Harper Speak Out
After the game, Castellanos told reporters he felt the pitch was intentional, especially after noticing Uceta’s mounting frustration on the mound.
“I could see it coming,” Castellanos explained. “He was getting frustrated, and I thought, ‘Let’s see if he’s still around the plate.’ The pitch wasn’t anywhere close to where it should have been.”
He went on to compare Uceta’s actions to a child throwing a tantrum. “It’s like my 2-year-old throwing a fit because I took away his dessert before he finished,” Castellanos added.
Uceta, who had a 0.75 ERA before the game, saw his ERA shoot up to 1.49 after being charged with three earned runs, contributing to his visible frustration.
Bryce Harper echoed Castellanos’ sentiment, criticizing Uceta for letting his emotions dictate his actions.
“He hit him on purpose,” Harper said. “That’s not the game we play. Guys throw too hard nowadays for this kind of stuff. You give up a homer, blow a lead—don’t take it out on someone else. It’s just not acceptable.”
Looking Ahead
The Phillies will look to sweep the Rays in the final game of the three-game series on Wednesday at 6:40 p.m. ET, with tensions likely still simmering.
Conclusion
This benches-clearing incident brings to light the intensity of emotions in professional baseball. While frustrations are a part of the game, Castellanos and Harper made it clear that intentional hit-by-pitches have no place in Major League Baseball. Fans will be watching closely to see if the final game of the series brings more fireworks.