Tensions were high in St. Louis on Thursday night.
With two out in the first inning at Busch Stadium, chaos ensued as Cardinals starter Miles Mikolas pitched to Cubs outfielder Ian Happ, whose at-bat ended with a plunking and an ejection of the hurler.
The cause of the fury started on a 2-0 pitch when Happ took a rip at Mikolas breaking pitch and missed the ball but whacked the head of catcher Willson Contreras with his back swing.
The St. Louis backstop immediately went down to the ground and was attended to by the Cardinals’ training staff.
After some deliberations, he was removed from the game and replaced by Andrew Knizner.
Mikolas seemed to be upset that his batterymate was injured and subsequently threw a 94-mph fastball high and inside that barely missed Happ.
On a 3-1 pitch, the right-handed starter did not miss and drilled Happ on the rear in what appeared to be a retaliatory measure.
As Happ slowly took first base, the four umpires conferenced, and without giving Mikolas a warning, tossed him from the game.
The 34-year-old protested with the crew, but to no avail, though before he exited into the dugout and locker room, an animated Mikolas yelled and gestured toward the Cubs’ dugout in anger.
Ian Happ hit Willson Contreras on a backswing and Contreras was removed from the game
Two pitches later, Miles Mikolas hit Happ with a pitch. Mikolas and Oli Marmol were ejected from the game pic.twitter.com/vP3LgdRn3X
— Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) July 28, 2023
Before all was said and done, Cardinals manager Oli Marmol got ejected from the game as well.
Both teams might be under .500, but the old rivals offered plenty of excitement.
