Rhys Hoskins Clears Benches Against Mets With A Dirty Slide In His First Game With The Milwaukee Brewers

The Milwaukee Brewers have played exactly one full regular season game, and they've already caused a benches-clearing incident.

During the top of the eighth inning of their Opening Day game against the New York Mets, Michael Tonkin got Willy Adames to hit a ground ball to Mets third baseman Brett Baty. It was a pitch tailor-made for an inning-ending, 5-4-3 double play.

That is, until Brewers first baseman Rhys Hoskins entered the chat. 

Baty threw to second baseman Jeff McNeil for the force out. However, Hoskins slid late into second base, taking out McNeil in the process.

Hoskins initially laid down on the base path, looking like he was injured. While he was lying down, McNeil stood over him and chewed him out for the risky slide. 

McNeil’s barking caused both benches and dugouts to clear. No players threw any punches, but both the men involved in the incident threw verbal haymakers at each other even after being separated. Hoskins even made a cry baby gesture in McNeil’s direction.

Hoskins clearly thinks that McNeil was getting upset over nothing. But regardless of what Hoskins thinks, that slide was certainly something. 

The MLB states that a slide is illegal if the runner doesn't try to touch the bag with his slide. Hoskins certainly did that, meaning that what he did is technically not wrong.

However, he did catch McNeil’s shin with his cleat. Furthermore, he did nearly cave in his left leg to stop his momentum. That had injury risk written all over it, and McNeil had every right to be frustrated.

Hoskins (with bat) slid recklessly into Jeff McNeil's leg. (Photo by Mary DeCicco/MLB Photos via Getty Images)

Also, if you pause at the 14-second mark of the video, it looks like Hoskins is smirking as he walks away. That's not criminal or illegal, but its classless, especially after a nearly-disastrous slide.

Fortunately, Tonkin and the Mets got out of that inning with no more runs. But they still ended up losing the game, 3-1.