Cubs, Pirates clear benches after Arrieta gets hit in NL Wild Card
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}PITTSBURGH, PA - OCTOBER 07: Jake Arrieta #49 of the Chicago Cubs walks off the field with umpire Hunter Wendelstedt #21 after being hit by a pitch thrown by Tony Watson #44 of the Pittsburgh Pirates (not pictured) in the seventh inning during the National League Wild Card game between the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Chicago Cubs at PNC Park on October 7, 2015 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jared Wickerham/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH -- The Pittsburgh Pirates struggled to get a hit off Chicago Cubs ace Jake Arrieta.
Hitting Arrieta proved to be far easier.
Pirates reliever Tony Watson drilled Arrieta in the left side with a fastball in the top of the seventh inning during Wednesday night's NL Wild Card Game. Arrieta and Watson exchanged words near home plate and the bullpens and benches briefly emptied onto the field. The teams gathered around each other along the first base line but there were no punches thrown. Watson was issued a warning.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Pittsburgh utility player Sean Rodriguez was ejected. Rodriguez took his frustration out on a water cooler in the Pirates' dugout, landing a couple of good blows in anger.
Arrieta hit two Pirates earlier in the game, though neither appeared intentional.
The Cubs were leading 4-0 at the time of the dustup.
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