clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

Dodgers rookie-level Ogden brawls with Idaho Falls, 8 ejected

By Eric Stephen
Benches emptied a few times in Idaho Falls on Tuesday night.
Benches emptied a few times in Idaho Falls on Tuesday night.
MiLB

For the second time in four days a Dodgers minor league affiliate was engaged in a massive brawl. Six players and both managers were ejected in the 10th inning on Tuesday night's game between the Ogden Raptors and Idaho Falls Chukars in rookie-level Pioneer League action in Idaho.

The fracas began when Justin Chigbogu struck out for the second out of the top of the 10th inning, and said something to Idaho Falls (a Royals affiliate) catcher Pedro Gonzalez. Things escalated, thanks in part to both managers, Jack McDowell for Ogden and Omar Ramirez for Idaho Falls leading the arguments.

The brawl caused a 25-minute delay in the game, thanks in part to a secondary brawl erupting as players were leaving the field. Brett Hein of the Ogden Standard-Examiner has more information:

As teams finally returned to their dugouts, another confrontation happened near the clubhouses as the ejected personnel were leaving the field. Benches cleared again, but order was eventually restored without any further incident reported.

After the dust settled five Raptors were ejected: McDowell, Chigbogu, catcher Julian Leon, right fielder Colin Hering and left fielder Theo Alexander.

Three Chukars were tossed in the 10th: Ramirez, pitcher Brooks Pounders and right fielder Brawlun Pounders. The coincidence of the names involved on the Idaho Falls side was not lost on Raptors announcer Brandon Hart.

The Raptors ultimately lost 9-8 in 16 innings, but they did briefly lead in the 14th inning thanks to a bizarre play, sort of a 2006 NLDS Game 1 at Shea Stadium, only with a happier ending. Per Hein:

With two runners on base, Cody Bellinger hit a deep double to center field. Having to wait to see if the ball would be caught, baserunners Ahart and Mike Ahmed ended up rounding third base one right after the other. Ahart was tagged out, but Ahmed slid in safe behind him for an 8-7 lead.

This is the second Dodgers minor league brawl in five days. Five Isotopes were suspended a total of 21 games for their role in Triple-A Albuquerque's brawl in Reno on Saturday night, with an Erisbel Arruebarrena suspension forthcoming once the Pacific Coast League figures out how to deal with the major league service time for punitive action taken from an incident while on a rehab assignment.

In Idaho Falls, a total of 42 players were used, including 13 pitchers, in Tuesday night's game.

More From True Blue LA