Animosity between Pirates and Reds reaches boiling point as benches clear

It was less than two years ago that the Pittsburgh Pirates and Cincinnati Reds faced off in the NL wild-card game. Pittsburgh won that game and is still a contender in the National League while Cincinnati has taken a step back since then and is trying to rebuild.

Even though they're trending in opposite directions, there continues to be animosity between the two NL Central rivals.

A day after Reds outfielder Marlon Byrd felt that he was drilled deliberately by Pirates right-hander Joe Blanton, the beef hit a boiling point Sunday at Great American Ballpark.

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With Pittsburgh leading 3-0 in the top of the eighth inning, Reds reliever Pedro Villareal hit Pirates star center fielder Andrew McCutchen with a fastball square in the back.

Pirates reliever Tony Watson then hit Brandon Phillips with a fastball in the bottom of the eighth and that caused the benches to clear. After a few minutes of mostly yelling but also some pushing and shoving. Byrd and Joey Votto were ejected on the Reds' side and Pirates infielder Sean Rodriguez got the boot too.

It seemed like that was going to be the end of it, but a cutter got away from Pirates closer Mark Melancon in the ninth and hit Tucker Barnhart. Melancon was immediately tossed and so was manager Clint Hurdle after he came out to argue the decision.

The Pirates held on for a 3-0 win to improve to 61-43, the second best record in the NL next to St. Louis. That's exactly what McCutchen is taking from Sunday's emotional contest.

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Until Cincinnati turns it around on the field, Pittsburgh will be able to hold that fact over the Reds, regardless of how tense things get during a given game.

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Israel Fehr is a writer for Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at israelfehr@yahoo.ca or follow him on Twitter. Follow @israelfehr