The Braves and Jose Fernandez are at it again.
Three years ago, Fernandez and Braves famously got into a little kerfuffle after Fernandez hit a home run and admired it a little too long. Several Braves players, including Chris Johnson and Brian McCann, took exception. Here's the video:
That was a long time ago now, but those hard feelings were rekindled Wednesday night in Atlanta. This time it wasn't Fernandez who hit the home run, however. It was Nick Markakis who took Fernandez deep. Markakis didn't admire it too much. Not compared to Fernandez three years ago, anyway. Here's the home run:
Later in the game, Fernandez let everyone know how much he didn't like giving up a home run to Markakis by drilling him with a pitch. He tried to play it off as an accident, but it seemed obvious something was up. It was a little too much of a coincidence, you know? Here's the hit-by-pitch:
The benches were not warned after Markakis was hit by the pitch. An inning later though, with Fernandez at the plate, Braves righty Jose Ramirez apparently retaliated by throwing behind the Marlins ace. Ramirez was ejected and both benches cleared. Here's the video:
My guess is yes, Fernandez did throw at Markakis on purpose as retaliation for the home run. I don't like it, but it is what it is. The Braves have every right to retaliate, and since this was the NL with no DH, Fernandez had to face the music himself.
The only thing I don't like is Ramirez throwing behind Fernandez and up near his head. That's pretty dangerous. If you're going to throw at someone, do it below the shoulders. Fernandez hit Markakis in the hip, for example. Hopefully this was a case of Ramirez missing his spot and not, you know, throwing up near Fernandez's head on purpose.
Fernandez and the Marlins ended up getting the last laugh; they won Wednesday's game 7-5 (box score).
