Tensions ran high during the Philadelphia Phillies’ 9-4 win over the Tampa Bay Rays on Tuesday night, as outfielder Nick Castellanos and Rays reliever Edwin Uceta exchanged heated words after a controversial hit-by-pitch incident.

The altercation led to both benches clearing and Castellanos calling out Uceta for what he described as unprofessional behavior.

Uceta entered the game in the seventh inning with the score tied 4-4 and runners on base. His appearance quickly went south as he allowed five runs—two inherited—to cross the plate. After giving up a two-run double to Cal Stevenson, an RBI single to Buddy Kennedy, and a two-run homer to Trea Turner, Uceta then hit Castellanos with a 96-mph pitch. The hit-by-pitch sparked a heated reaction from Castellanos, who later suggested Uceta was acting out of frustration.

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“And I just told him that was bulls–t. You’re throwing a baseball over 90 miles an hour and you’re frustrated and you’re going to throw at somebody, you know?” Castellanos said after the game. “That’s like my 2-year-old throwing a fit because I took away his dessert before he was finished.”

Castellanos, anticipating the pitch, said he had a strong feeling he would be hit after the Phillies’ offensive surge. “I had an overwhelming sense that I was about to get drilled,” Castellanos told the Associated Press. “He was just [ticked] off that he got hit around and his ERA shot through the roof.”

As Castellanos pointed toward Uceta, tensions quickly escalated, leading to both benches clearing. While no punches were thrown, players from both teams gathered near the mound, and home plate umpire John Libka, along with Rays catcher Logan Driscoll, held Castellanos back from advancing toward Uceta. Phillies star Bryce Harper, who had doubled earlier in the inning, also started moving toward Uceta but was held back by two Rays players.

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After the game, Uceta denied hitting Castellanos on purpose, claiming through a translator that the pitch was a change-up that got away from him. “I was struggling a little bit, so I was just trying to locate my pitches,” Uceta explained. However, MLB.com data later identified the pitch as a two-seam fastball.

Harper, who watched the situation unfold, was clear in his belief that Uceta intentionally hit Castellanos, stating that this behavior has no place in Major League Baseball. “He hit him on purpose,” Harper said. “Guys throw too hard nowadays. You’re getting mad because a guy hits a homer off you or you blow the lead? That’s not the game we play, man.”

Rays manager Kevin Cash acknowledged the incident, saying he would speak with Uceta and other young players about how to handle such situations. “We’ll talk to him and a bunch of young guys about it,” Cash said, indicating the importance of controlling emotions during high-pressure moments.

Castellanos, who went 0-for-4 in the game, didn’t let the situation dampen the Phillies’ performance. Philadelphia now holds an eight-game lead over the Mets and Braves in the NL East with 17 games remaining in the regular season.

When asked about his comment comparing Uceta’s behavior to that of a child, Castellanos joked about his parenting experience. “Of course,” he said with a laugh. “Otto is only allowed so much ice cream and cake, man.”

The Phillies continue to solidify their postseason position, but Tuesday night’s fiery exchange serves as a reminder of the high emotions that can arise in critical games.

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