Gomez, Freeman ejected in 1st during argument

[September 26, 2013]  ATLANTA, Ga. (AP) -- Milwaukee Brewers center fielder Carlos Gomez and Atlanta Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman were ejected in the first inning Wednesday night after both benches cleared during an argument.

Reserve Atlanta catcher Gerald Laird was also ejected.

Gomez, the second batter, hit his 23rd homer to make it 1-0 off Paul Maholm. As soon as he hit the ball, Gomez stood in the batter's box watching the ball sail into the left field seats and flipped his bat behind him.

As Gomez started walking up the first base line, he was yelling at Maholm, who yelled back.

The argument continued as Gomez slowly trotted across first base and began arguing with Freeman.

Freeman yelled back at Gomez, who touched second and third without incident before Braves catcher Brian McCann met him about 20 feet up the third-base line and stopped him.

Gomez and McCann stood face to face yelling at each other while home plate umpire Paul Nauert tried to separate the two players.

As Freeman came charging in from first base toward Gomez and McCann, both benches emptied. Brewers catcher Jonathan Lucroy was still trying to hold back Gomez when the fracas moved behind home plate.

Braves reserve outfielder Reed Johnson then charged at Gomez, who appeared to shove Johnson in the face. Brewers left fielder Khris Davis managed to hold back Freeman as Freeman tried to get to Gomez.

Gomez was escorted by teammates into the dugout, where he was ejected by Nauert.

Nauert ejected Freeman while he was still on the field.

The Braves' public relations staff said that Laird was ejected, though it wasn't immediately clear why.

Gomez never touched home plate, but the Brewers were still credited with a run.

Logan Schafer took Gomez's spot in center field. Chris Johnson took Freeman's spot at first while second baseman Dan Uggla entered the game for Atlanta and Elliott Johnson took Johnson's spot at third.

[Associated Press; By GEORGE HENRY]

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