Benches clear in Mets-Brewers game after Jeff McNeil objects to Rhys Hoskins' hard slide

Rhys Hoskins is now playing for the Milwaukee Brewers after six seasons with the Philadelphia Phillies. But he apparently hasn't let go of the NL East rivalry with the New York Mets.

During the eighth inning of the Brewers' 2024 season opener against the Mets, a 3-1 Milwaukee victory, Hoskins riled up New York infielder Jeff McNeil with a hard slide into second base to break up a double-play attempt. McNeil already had a tough play to make, fielding a low relay throw from third baseman Brett Baty, but Hoskins coming in spikes-first over the bag prevented a throw to first.

McNeil immediately took exception to the slide and confronted Hoskins before second-base umpire Jonathan Parra stepped between them. As Hoskins jogged away, McNeil continued to yell at him, compelling players from both dugouts and bullpens to walk onto the field.

Players stayed on the field as McNeil and Hoskins continued to yell and point at each other. McNeil was hot and ready to fight, to which Hoskins responded with a crying gesture from the dugout.

Looking at the play, McNeil was likely upset at Hoskins sliding into his left leg, which was planted in the dirt. Yet Hoskins didn't run out of the baseline to collide with McNeil. Despite McNeil's objections, it appeared to be a clean slide.

The Mets called for a review, contending that Hoskins made an illegal slide into McNeil, but the umpires didn't overturn the call. New York's Michael Tonkin struck out the next batter, Brice Turang, to end the inning. The Brewers went on to win the game, in part thanks to rookie Jackson Chourio's impressive debut.