Cubs, Pirates clear benches after Arrieta gets hit

PITTSBURGH (AP) The Pittsburgh Pirates struggled to get a hit off Chicago Cubs ace Jake Arrieta.

Hitting Arrieta proved to be far easier.

Pirates reliever Tony Watson drilled Arrieta in the left side with a fastball in the top of the seventh inning during Wednesday night’s NL wild-card game. Arrieta and Watson exchanged words near home plate and the bullpens and benches briefly emptied onto the field. The teams gathered around each other along the first base line but there were no punches thrown. Watson was issued a warning.

Pittsburgh utility player Sean Rodriguez was ejected. Rodriguez took his frustration out on a water cooler in the Pirates’ dugout, landing a couple of good blows in anger.

Arrieta hit two Pirates earlier in the game, though neither appeared intentional.

The Cubs were leading 4-0 at the time of the dustup.

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