In the first MLB game between the Astros and Dodgers since it was revealed the former employed a sign-stealing scheme en route to a 2017 World Series win over the latter, Houston had a problem: Los Angeles pitcher Joe Kelly.
Kelly, who joined the Dodgers last season and made 55 appearances for the team in 2019, threw high-and-tight pitches to Astros stars Alex Bregman and Carlos Correa in the sixth inning. Kelly walked Bregman but struck out Correa to end the inning, then stuck out his tongue and made a face in the Houston star’s direction.
Correa took exception with the inside pitching and Kelly’s mockery and, after the players exchanged words, both benches cleared in a coronavirus-influenced melee that included plenty of yelling and crowding but no pushing or punches.
Now Joe Kelly throws at Correa
THIS IS GETTING WILD pic.twitter.com/Kd4zgjKzBj
— 2020 Astros Shame Tour (@AsteriskTour) July 29, 2020
Joe Kelly strikes out Carlos Correa, and……
THINGS ARE POPPING OFF IN HOUSTON pic.twitter.com/eLuViD1HMz
— 2020 Astros Shame Tour (@AsteriskTour) July 29, 2020
Joe Kelly throws at Bregman and mocks Correa, a breakdown pic.twitter.com/jAwjXhCuLG
— Jomboy (@Jomboy_) July 29, 2020
It’s worth noting that Kelly, while a hothead, was a strange person to lead the charge against the Astros as he was not even on the Dodgers in 2017 when Los Angeles lost to Houston in the World Series.
In 2017, Kelly was on the Red Sox, as he was the following year when Boston beat LA in the World Series. The Red Sox, who brought former Houston bench coach Alex Cora aboard as their manager in 2018, were later accused of using a sign-stealing scheme similar to Houston’s during their World Series run.
After the game, Kelly was asked if the incident had anything to do with his Red Sox team losing to Houston in the AL Division Series in 2017.
“No. When I was with the Red Sox we beat them in ’18,” he said. “It’s one of those things that I pitch competitively. With no fans here, it’s easy to hear some stuff (from the opposing dugout) … there’s something they apparently didn’t take too kind to.”
Adding insult to, well insult, the Astros lost the game 5-2 to the Dodgers.
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