This time it was the Mets cool coach; Bill Robinson, swinging away getting into it with Pirate pitcher Rick Rhoden. Robinson & Rhoden were team mates back on the 1979 Pirates World Championship team.
The first place Mets (34-15) arrived in Pittsburgh for a twi-night doubleheader against Jim Leyland's fourth place Pirates (22-27). Ron Darling (6-1) took the mound against Rick Rhoden (4-3).
Starting Lineups
New York Mets | Pittsburgh Pirates | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Lenny Dykstra | CF | 1 | Barry Bonds | CF | |
2 | Wally Backman | 2B | 2 | Joe Orsulak | RF | |
3 | Keith Hernandez | 1B | 3 | Johnny Ray | 2B | |
4 | Gary Carter | C | 4 | Sid Bream | 1B | |
5 | Darryl Strawberry | RF | 5 | R.J. Reynolds | LF | |
6 | George Foster | LF | 6 | Tony Pena | C | |
7 | Ray Knight | 3B | 7 | Jim Morrison | 3B | |
8 | Rafael Santana | SS | 8 | Rafael Belliard | SS | |
9 | Ron Darling | P | 9 | Rick Rhoden | P |

The Mets were getting frustrated & accused Rick Rhoden of doctoring up the baseball. Mets First base coach, Bill Robinson kept telling his hitters to ask home plate umpire; Billy Williams to check the baseball. Finally in the 5th inning things erupted.
The Pirates had a 2-1 lead & with two outs, Keith Hernandez reached on a walk. The next batter; Gary Carter got into a discussion with home plate umpire Williams. Davey Johnson came out to see what was going on & asked the baseball to be checked. Pirate skipper Leyland followed to protect his pitcher.

The ball wall was ejected, Carter ended up striking out, ending the inning. At this point Robinson started shouting something at Rhoden, Rhoden shouted back & the next thing you know punches were flying. The two went at it, then the players emptied from the dugout and the bullpens.
Kevin Mitchell grabbed Rhoden & Tony Pena tried to grab back Mitchell. Eventually order was restored & Robinson was the only one ejected, since he shoved Rhoden first. Robinson & Rhoden had been team mates together in Pittsburgh from 1979-1983.
The Pirates beat the Mets 7-1 in that game & the Mets won the second game to split the twin bill.
NL President Chub Feeny handed out the fines the next day. Robinson was fined $500, Mitchell $200. Pirates manager Leyland was fined $400, while Rhoden & Khalifa both were fined $200.
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