Tempers boiled over in the seventh inning of Wednesday night's NL wild card game between the Cubs and Pirates (CHC-PIT GameTracker). Earlier in the game, Cubs starter Jake Arrieta, in the course of dominating the Pirates through the early and middle innings, nicked Francisco Cervelli with an up-and-in pitch and then hit Josh Harrison the next inning.
When Arrieta came up in the seventh, Pirates reliever Tony Watson plunked Arrieta in the hip, and Arrieta took offense. Thereupon, the dugouts emptied, and a near-brawl broke out near home plate.