For a few minutes in the fifth inning Tuesday, Angel Stadium looked more like the inside of a UFC octagon than a big-league baseball field. Moments after an up-and-in fastball from Atlanta Braves righty Reynaldo López hit the backstop, Los Angeles Angels DH Jorge Soler charged the mound to trigger the season’s first benches-clearing fight.

Soler threw haymakers at Lopez, who responded in kind, with the pitcher using the baseball as a weapon. With the ball wrapped in his right hand, Lopez swung at Soler’s head, just missing his face and connecting instead with his helmet.

Both benches cleared, the bullpens emptied, and by the end, López and Soler found themselves taking an early shower after being ejected.

Jorge Soler and Reynaldo López are throwing PUNCHES in Anaheim as a brawl breaks out pic.twitter.com/Uj4kOk07Ow

— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) April 8, 2026

“He didn’t miss with the other hitters like that, like he missed to me, so I think it was intentional,” Soler told reporters.

Though the brawl commenced approximately 30 seconds after López missed with 97.1 mph fastball, things had been brewing since the first inning. In the first frame, Soler, the World Series MVP in 2021 with the Braves, launched a two-run home run to put the Angels ahead early.

Jorge Soler mashes a two-run homer and the Angels start early! pic.twitter.com/msXeoyXxbZ

— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) April 8, 2026

Two innings later, Soler was hit by a 96 mph fastball from López. Though things ended there, they quickly reignited in the bottom of the fifth. After López’s offering hit the backstop, catcher Jonah Heim made a throw to second to try to nab Angels first baseman Nolan Schanuel.

Meanwhile, Soler and López began trading words, with López seemingly motioning at Soler to do something. Soler did and proceeded to charge the mound, throwing open-handed haymakers. López also returned fists of his own.

With both benches emptying in a hurry, Soler was tackled by Braves personnel, including manager Walt Weiss. López was held back by Mike Trout.

“I love Soler. We were teammates here,” Weiss told reporters postgame. “That’s a big man. I just felt like I gotta get him off his feet because he’s going to hurt somebody.”

When play resumed, Tyler Kinley replaced López on the mound and Jeimer Candelario replaced Soler in the Angels’ order. The Braves went on to win 7-2.