Hard slide leads to bench-clearing brawl, ejections in Blue Jays, Rangers game

Tensions have built between the Toronto Blue Jays and the Texas Rangers for months and boiled over in the eighth inning Sunday.

Rangers pitcher Matt Bush hit Jose Bautista with a 98 mph fastball. Bautista took his base, but not before exchanging words with Bush and the Rangers dugout, according to MLB.com.

Two batters later, Justin Smoak ripped a ground ball down the third base line, setting up at least a force out at second base. Where Bautista went in with a hard slide knocking over Roughned Odor, a violation of the league’s new rule designed to protect basemen.

As the two got up from the clay infield, Odor shoved Bautista then squarely punched him in the face, sending the Blue Jays’ slugger's helmet and sunglasses from his head.

The benches cleared as players rushed the field.

Bautista, and other Blue Jays including Josh Donaldson, Demarlo Hale and Jesse Chavez were ejected, according to MLB. Odor and Rangers bench coach Steve Beuchele were also tossed.

The Rangers won the game 7-6.