Fists flew and tempers flared during a wild bench-clearing incident during the sixth inning on Wednesday night at Sun Life Stadium.
The incident was ignited after Marlins right-hander Chris Volstad threw behind the Nationals Nyjer Morgan after Justin Maxwell’s pinch-hit double.
Morgan spiked his bat and charged Volstad, prompting an all-out series of punching, pushing and grabbing.
Morgan threw a left-handed punch that grazed Volstad’s shoulder before Marlins first baseman Gaby Sanchez charged and delivered a blow on Morgan. Both benches and bullpens emptied, and there was plenty of pushing and shoving.
Morgan and Volstad were ejected, as were Marlins manager Edwin Rodriguez and Florida reliever Jose Veras.
At the root of the incident was the collision between Morgan and Marlins catcher Brett Hayes in the 10th inning on Tuesday night.
On that play, Morgan barreled into Hayes, and the Marlins felt he would have scored easily had he slid. Instead he was called out, and Hayes sustained a separated left shoulder.
In the first inning on Wednesday, Morgan struck out swinging. And in the fourth inning, with the score 14-3, Morgan was hit by a pitch.
Morgan took first and proceeded to steal two bases, and he scored on Ian Desmond’s sacrifice fly, on a play in which second baseman Donnie Murphy injured his right wrist.
The Nationals felt the matter should have been resolved after Morgan was hit by the pitch in the fourth.
