Braves, Angels throw punches as Atlanta wins 7-2
Apr 7, 2026; Anaheim, California, USA; A fight breaks out between Atlanta Braves pitcher Reynaldo López (40) and Los Angeles Angels right fielder Jorge Soler (12) during the fifth inning at Angel Stadium. Mandatory Credit: William Navarro-Imagn Images | William Navarro-Imagn Images In what was an otherwise routine and mostly quiet game on Tuesday night between the Atlanta Braves and Los Angeles Angels, a big time brawl broke out between Braves starter Reynaldo Lopez and former World Series hero Jorge Soler. Let’s set the stage.
Earlier in the game, Lopez hit Soler in the hand with a fastball. In the fifth inning, another high fastball sailed over the head of catcher Jonah Heim. Soler took offense to it, and after the two stared each other down, the former World Series hero charged the mound.
Punches were thrown, Walt Weiss made a perfectly formed tackle to take Soler down — seriously, watch the video — and both players were ejected. MASSIVE brawl breaks out in Anaheim as Jorge Soler and Reynaldo López throw punches at each other after Soler took exception to a high-and-in pitch. pic.
twitter. com/SOHkZjVqNn — Foul Territory (@FoulTerritoryTV) April 8, 2026 We will see what the league decides to do, but a suspension for both players seems highly likely. As for the rest of the game, the Angels took an early 2-0 lead on a Soler homer that was aided earlier in the inning on an errant throw from Austin Riley.
The Braves would chip away by way of an Eli White RBI double in the second to cut the lead in half. In the fourth, Austin Riley delivered a much-needed RBI single to tie it, followed by a White sacrifice fly and Jonah Heim bloop single to give Atlanta a 4-2 lead. Ozzie Albies delivered a much-needed insurance run with a solo homer to right in the top of the eighth.