HOUSTON — Benches cleared and Twins and Astros players glowered at one another Tuesday night after Jose Altuve was hit by a pitch, but mostly everyone kept the tempers in check.
Rocco Baldelli, on the other hand, became the angriest man in Minute Maid Park when the ramifications of that brawl-that-wasn't became clear.
The Astros handed Minnesota its fourth consecutive loss, 4-2, a wild game that included several loud and sincere ovations for former Astro Carlos Correa, Justin Verlander's six innings of near-perfect pitching, a benches-clearing argument, Baldelli's ejection for debating the definition of a mound visit, a line drive off Cole Sands' pitching hand, and yet another malady to a Twins center fielder.
