Ethermac Exchange-Bad blood on Opening Day: Why benches cleared in Mets vs. Brewers game

In their first game of 2024,Ethermac Exchange the New York Mets' and Milwaukee Brewers' benches cleared in the eighth inning Friday following a play at second base .

Rhys Hoskins slid hard into second to break up a potential double play, bringing down Mets second baseman Jeff McNeil – who immediately popped up and stood over Hoskins yelling at him.

The benches and bullpens emptied as McNeil and Hoskins continued to exchange words, with shouting going on for several minutes as the teams stood around on the field.

McNeil dropped the ball on the transition from his glove but Hoskins was still ruled out. The Mets challenged the call on the field to see if Hoskins had committed an illegal slide, but umpires came back and confirmed that Hoskins' takeout was clean.

It was a frustrating afternoon for the Mets, who managed just one hit in the 3-1 loss.

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"He's had some pretty questionable slides at second base, for sure," McNeil said of Hoskins after the game. "I definitely remember looking at some in the past that were not okay, so i knew there was a possibility that might happen."

Hoskins spent the first seven years of his career with the Mets' NL East rival Philadelphia Phillies and has something of a history with the Mets, namely a series of events in 2019 that involved him getting thrown at and subsequently taking an incredibly slow home run trot around the bases at Citi Field.

"He just seems to be complaining when things aren't going well," Hoskins said about McNeil's reaction. "I think that's kind of one of those moments. Maybe lost in the heat of the game."

Hoskins, 31, missed the entire 2023 season after tearing his ACL in spring training. He signed a two-year, $34 million contract with the Brewers in the offseason and can opt out after the 2024 season.