Four ejected after brawl at Indians game

The Spokane Indians and Vancouver Canadians closed out their contentious five-game Northwest League baseball series at Avista Stadium Monday afternoon by engaging in an ugly third-inning brawl that cleared both benches and resulted in the immediate ejections of at least four players, including Spokane’s Rougned Odor, who initiated the incident. Odor, after being forced out at second, cut in front of Vancouver shortstop Shane Opitz, who appeared to being throwing the ball back to the pitcher. Optiz’s glove hit Odor in the face, and the first-year free agent turned around and shoved Opitz. Players from the benches and bullpens of both teams flooded onto the field, and numerous punches were thrown — and landed — including two by Indians pitcher Matt West, who was ejected, along with Odor, Opitz and Canadians second baseman Jon Berti. The Spokane Indians organization issued an apology immediately after the game ended, saying, “The Indians organization does not in any way condone the actions of the players during this incident. The Northwest League is currently in the process of reviewing the game, and numerous suspensions are likely to be handed out.”