CHICAGO (670 The Score) -- The benches cleared once again between the Cubs and Brewers on Saturday as their rivalry continued with more beanballs.
With two outs in the top of the eighth inning of the Cubs' 9-0 win over the Brewers, right-hander Keegan Thompson threw two pitches inside on designated hitter Andrew McCutchen -- with the second pitch hitting him in the hip. No punches were thrown as the benches emptied, and the two sides were ultimately separated.
Thompson was ejected for his role in the altercation. Earlier, Cubs left fielder Ian Happ left the game in the bottom of the seventh inning after being struck by a pitch in the knee. Cubs catcher Willson Contreras was hit by a pitch in the fourth inning, marking the second straight day that he had been hit by a Brewers pitcher.
Thompson said the pitches to McCutchen weren't intentional. Contreras also believes the Brewers weren't intentionally throwing at him.
"I know they're not trying to," Contreras said of the Brewers' intentions. "But like I said before, if you don't have the command to go in, just don't go because you're going to get somebody hurt. And I'm not trying to get hurt by a hit-by-pitch.
"I get it, like, it's cold, they don't have the same grip. But I'm just saying, if I'm realizing that I don't have the command of the fastball to go in, I just don't go in."
Contreras has been hit by Brewers pitching 15 times in 85 career games against Milwaukee, including four times in 2021. He was among the most vocal of the players during the exchange between the two teams.
The Cubs and Brewers also cleared their benches during a game last April at Wrigley Field when Contreras was hit by a pitch. No punches were thrown in that altercation either.
Chris Emma covers the Bears, Chicago’s sports scene and more for 670TheScore.com. Follow him on Twitter @CEmma670.