Angels’ Jorge Soler, Braves' Reynaldo Lopez engage in on-field brawl 

Seconds passed, and Atlanta Braves pitcher Reynaldo Lopez and Los Angeles Angels outfielder Jorge Soler continued staring at each other down.  

Lopez finally opened his arms and appeared to say something.   

Whatever was said Tuesday night, Soler objected and charged the pitching mound, throwing several punches. Lopez, attempting to defend himself while still holding the baseball, mostly backpeddled until players from both sides converged to create a melee at Angel Stadium.  

Angels outfielder Mike Trout eventually bearhugged Lopez during the fisticuffs and cleared him out of the way.   

Both Lopez and Soler were ejected from the contest.  

Braves, Angles engage in benches-clearing brawl  

Here’s the pre-brawl setup.   

With the Braves leading 4-2 in the fifth inning, Soler, who homered earlier off Lopez, approached the batter’s box with a runner on second base and two outs.  

Lopez’s first pitch was a 97-mph fastball, which soared head level, past catcher Jonah Heim and to the backstop. The optics weren’t good.   

Soler stepped out of the box and looked directly at his former teammate with the Braves.  

Lopez peered back for a few seconds before delivering inflammatory words, igniting a brawl. Several punches were thrown, but few, if any, appeared to land.  

MLB officials could review the players’ actions and levy penalties as soon as Wednesday.