Simon, Anderson exchange HBPs in tense game

MILWAUKEE — Reds center fielder Tyler Holt already created chaos trying to steal home on the Brewers in the fourth inning of what became a 7-6 victory. But it escalated into a wild sequence of events that culminated with the ejection of Cincinnati starter Alfredo Simon.

The Brewers held a 2-1 lead in the fourth when things got interesting with two outs as Simon batted against Milwaukee starter Chase Anderson. On third base, Holt broke for home before Anderson, while falling off the mound, hit Simon with a pitch on the left leg as he was showing bunt.

“That was just a straight steal of home plate against a guy going from the wind-up and wasn’t paying any attention to Holt,” Reds manager Bryan Price said. “Alfredo wanted to give a deke right there; pivot and turn as if he was going to put down a squeeze, and he got hit by a pitch.”

Simon was angered about being hit, which happened just as Holt was sliding across the plate. Holt was sent back to third base as a result.

“I think they saw guy run to home plate and they tried to hit me so the guy could go back to third,” Simon said.

No warnings were issued, however.

“I saw the guy going and tried to rush the pitch home and maybe get a tag,” Anderson said. “It slipped out of my hand and hit him in the leg. It definitely was not on purpose.”

Holt thought he might have been safe had Simon not been hit by the pitch.

“[Simon] saw me take …

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