Braves and Angels throw punches in wild benches-clearing brawl

And it wasn’t exactly heavenly in Anaheim.

The teams got into a chaotic benches-clearing brawl that even saw Angels designated hitter Jorge Soler and Braves starter Reynaldo Lopez throw punches at each other.

With two outs in the bottom of the fifth, Soler took a pitch up-and-in that went to the backstop, which allowed Nolan Schanuel to go from first to second base.

Jorge Soler (12) and Atlanta’s Reynaldo López (40) fight during the fifth inning of a the Angels-Braves game on April 7, 2026, in Anaheim, Calif. AP

Benches clear as Atlanta pitcher Reynaldo López (40) and Los Angeles right fielder Jorge Soler (12) fight on the field during the fifth inning of the Angels-Braves game. Getty Images

But things only escalated from there. Soler appeared to take exception to the pitch and stared down Lopez as he got a new ball for the next pitch. The starter held out both of his arms, seemingly in disbelief at the reaction. But before long, Soler dropped his bat and the two both threw punches as the dugouts emptied.

As the action veered toward the first base line, a few Braves players tackled Soler to the ground before he could inflict any real damage on Lopez. Angels star Mike Trout and Braves first base coach Antoan Richardson pushed Lopez back to keep him out of the fray as the rest of the teams converged around Soler.

Jorge Soler (12) and Atlanta’s Reynaldo López (40) fight during the fifth inning of the Angels-Braves game. AP

Once the brouhaha was completely quelled, Soler and Lopez walked off and were done for the night, getting ejected from the ballgame. No other players were tossed.

Soler hit a two-run homer in the first inning, the only two runs Lopez allowed in his abbreviated outing.