Dayton, West Michigan Brawl On Sunday Night

The Dayton Dragons recorded consecutive sellout No. 1,200 Sunday night, extending their record for the most consecutive sellouts by a team in U.S. professional sports. And it was unlike any of the past 1,199 sellouts, as the minor league game featured a brawl that included a pitcher firing a ball at opposing players during the scrap.

West Michigan won the game 2-1 in 10 innings, but what was memorable was a sixth-inning brawl that cleared both benches.

The brawl began when Dayton’s Jose Siri stole second base. Siri and West Michigan shortstop Daniel Pinero got tangled up for the play. The Dayton Dragons’ TV replay appears to show that Pinero’s left foot was on top of Siri’s hand. What’s much more obvious is that as Pinero walked away, he stepped on Siri’s leg with his right foot, spiking him.

Siri took offense and immediately went after Pinero, starting the brawl.

West Michigan shortstop Daniel Pinero spiked Dayton’s Jose Siri which led to a benches-clearing brawl. (Source: Dayton Dragons/MILB.tv)

At this point, it’s an ugly brawl, but nothing that far outside of the norm. However, as the scrum developed in the middle of the diamond, a West Michigan pitcher, identified by the Dayton Dragons writeup of the game as Eduardo Jimenez, threw a baseball that struck Dayton pitcher Jesse Stallings.

A West Michigan player threw a baseball that hit Dayton’s Jesse Stallings during Sunday night’s brawl. (Source: Dayton Dragons/MILB.tv)

Only Pinero and Siri were ejected, according to the West Michigan Whitecaps’ recap of the game. Siri ranks as the Reds’ No. 31 prospect, while Pinero is best known as the starting shortstop on Virginia’s 2015 College World Series championship team.

While instant replay is not allowed in minor league baseball to overrule any umpiring decisions, it is allowed to determine punishments/suspensions. The Midwest League had yet to announce any penalties resulting from the fight. A call to the Midwest League office on Memorial Day morning had yet to be returned.

Another view of the start of the West Michigan-Dayton brawl. (Source: Dayton Dragons/MILB.tv)