Arenado charges mound, sparking Rockies-Padres brawl

Tempers erupted in a big way at Coors Field on Wednesday.

Colorado Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado charged the mound and attempted to punch San Diego Padres pitcher Luis Perdomo after he threw behind him in the third inning, sparking a nasty benches-clearing brawl between the two teams.

Arenado didn't hesitate after the pitch sailed behind him, and Perdomo threw his glove at the charging third baseman before he tried to retreat.

Arenado then threw punches that missed Perdomo as both teams began piling up near third base.

As the pile grew, Arenado and Padres catcher A.J. Ellis had to both be restrained from fighting one another. Padres bench coach Mark McGwire helped keep a steaming Arenado at bay.

Arenado, Perdomo, and Ellis were all ejected, as were Rockies left fielder Gerardo Parra and starting pitcher German Marquez. Ian Desmond pinch-hit for Arenado, while Buddy Baumann replaced Perdomo on the mound for San Diego.

The nastiness between these NL West rivals may have been brewing for the last 24 hours. Before Wednesday's game, Padres outfielder Manuel Margot was placed on the disabled list with bruised ribs - an injury he sustained on a hit-by-pitch Tuesday night. The Rockies and Padres exchanged HBPs during the first two innings before Perdomo set off the brawl.

Once the dust settled from the nearly 10-minute brawl, Desmond continued Arenado's at-bat by reaching on an error, which served to kick-start a five-run Rockies rally.