The heat of competition boiled over in Anaheim Tuesday night, leading to Major League Baseball handing down significant suspensions. Los Angeles Angels slugger Jorge Soler and Atlanta Braves pitcher Reynaldo López have each received seven-game bans for their central roles in a benches-clearing brawl.

The suspensions, which were also accompanied by undisclosed fines, were set to begin Wednesday. However, both players have filed appeals, putting the penalties on hold for now as the process plays out.

The fiery sequence began when Soler, a former Brave and the 2021 World Series MVP, launched a home run off López in the first inning. Tensions escalated in Soler's next at-bat, where he was struck by a 96 mph fastball from López. The situation finally exploded in the fifth inning after López uncorked a high-and-inside wild pitch. Soler immediately charged the mound, and after a brief staredown, the two began throwing punches, with López notably still holding the baseball in his pitching hand.

The altercation triggered a full-scale melee, with players and coaches rushing from both dugouts and bullpens. Braves manager Walt Weiss was seen tackling Soler in an attempt to separate the combatants, highlighting the intensity of the moment. This incident serves as a stark reminder of the high stakes and raw emotions that can flare up on the diamond, especially between players with shared history.