Mets, Cardinals benches clear amid HBP controversy

Benches clear as St. Louis Cardinals designated hitter Nolan Arenado (28) reacts with New York Mets catcher Tomas Nido (3) and relief pitcher Yoan Lopez (44) after a high and tight pitch during the eighth inning at Busch Stadium. Arenado was ejected from the game. Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports

Watch: Mets, Cardinals brawl amid HBP controversy

By Zac Wassink | Last updated 4/27/22

The New York Mets and St. Louis Cardinals probably won't be sending each other Christmas cards anytime soon.

Less than 24 hours after New York right-hander Chris Bassitt publicly blasted MLB because three more Mets hitters were struck by pitches during Tuesday's 3-0 win at St. Louis, Cardinals righty Miles Mikolas reportedly clapped back and said pitchers should "take some responsibility" rather than blame the alleged questionable quality of baseballs.

The two clubs met again on Wednesday with the Mets leading the league for batters hit by pitches this season with 18, and New York's J.D. Davis was downed by a low 3-2 toss in the top of the eighth inning:

J.D. Davis is hit in the foot with a pitch.

Ronnie: "How can you miss that badly on a 3-2 pitch?" pic.twitter.com/xHllYvQ2oY
— SNY (@SNYtv) April 27, 2022

Not to be outdone, New York's Yoan Lopez sent a message in the bottom half of the frame, one that wasn't received all that well by St. Louis third baseman Nolan Arenado:

The benches have cleared after Yoan López threw up and in at Nolan Arenado. pic.twitter.com/VieEPQSKuu
— SNY (@SNYtv) April 27, 2022

Nolan Arenado's reaction following the pitch from Yoan López: pic.twitter.com/7zCFzGh3pw
— SNY (@SNYtv) April 27, 2022

Additional replays showed that New York slugger Pete Alonso, who was drilled in the helmet on Tuesday evening, was pulled to the ground during the melee seemingly by Cardinals first-base coach Stubby Clapp:

Pete Alonso was pulled to the ground by the Cardinals during the incident: pic.twitter.com/RtlmJRk7x1
— SNY (@SNYtv) April 27, 2022

First-base coach Stubby Clapp was ejected, presumably for his takedown of Pete Alonso. Willie McGree coaching first now.
— Katie Woo (@katiejwoo) April 27, 2022

Final: #STLCards 10, #Mets 5. WP; Jake Woodford (1-0). LP: Carlso Carrasco (1-1). Bench-clearing brawls: 1. Ejected: Arenado & Stubby Clapp.
— John Denton (@JohnDenton555) April 27, 2022

The Cardinals won the game 10-5 after dropping the previous two matchups, but this series will long be remembered for reasons that have little to do with scorelines.

These teams will next face off on May 16 at Citi Field.