New York Mets second baseman Jeff McNeil criticized Milwaukee Brewers first baseman Rhys Hoskins for sliding into him during the eighth inning of Friday's game, an incident that prompted benches to clear.
The benches clear between the Mets and Brewers after Jeff McNeil takes exception to a hard slide into second base from Rhys Hoskins pic.twitter.com/NN4ee8ea0Y
— SNY (@SNYtv) March 29, 2024
"We've had a little bit of a past, so I knew there was a chance that he'd be coming in like that," McNeil told reporters following the Mets' 3-1 loss to the Brewers, according to MLB.com's Anthony DiComo.
"I didn't like his slide. I wasn't trying to turn a double play at all. I was just trying to catch the ball. There was no need to break it up. Didn't like it."
McNeil shouted at Hoskins as the Brewers first baseman, who was called out, laid on the ground. Benches from both teams immediately cleared while McNeil and Hoskins continued to verbally spar from a distance. At one point, Hoskins made a "crybaby" gesture at McNeil.
"He just seems to be complaining when things aren't going well. I think that's one of those moments," Hoskins told reporters, according to SNY. "Maybe lost in the heat of the game a little bit. But I think it's just playing the game hard and playing the game the right way."
McNeil said it was unfortunate the umpires didn't see the slide the way he did but admitted it was legal.
Hoskins has a history with the Mets from his playing days with the Philadelphia Phillies. He most notably took more than 34 seconds to trot around the bases after hitting a home run against them in 2019. The Mets had thrown near Hoskins' head on two occasions the day before he hit the homer.
