MESA, Ariz. – Cubs pitcher Julian Tavarez took a flying
kick at San Francisco's Russ Davis after a third-inning
confrontation, setting off a bench-clearing brawl Monday in
Chicago's 6-3 win over the Giants.
The trouble erupted in the third inning when Tavarez struck out
Davis, who swung and missed at a 2-2 pitch
Tavarez dropped to one knee and followed through on his
delivery. Davis saw it as a gesture of celebration and showboating.
The two players exchanged words, and Davis charged the mound.
Tavarez took a jump-kick at Davis, and the two players punched at
one another. Both benches emptied, and both players were ejected.
"He thought I was a hot dog. He said something to me, and I
wasn't going to take it," Tavarez said. "I don't show up anybody
when I strike out somebody or anything like that."
Davis didn't make himself available to reporters.
It was the third testy incident involving Tavarez this spring.
In the Cubs' first exhibition, Tavarez threw a pitch over the
head of the Giants' Barry Bonds. Bonds stayed in a crouch for
several seconds, but he and Tavarez smiled at one another.
Last week, Tavarez hit Colorado's Jeff Cirillo in the arm with a
pitch. Cirillo had angry words for Tavarez as he went to first
base.
In Monday's game, the Giants took a 2-0 lead in the first on RBI
doubles by Jeff Kent and Armando Rios.
The Cubs scored three times in the bottom half, with Sammy Sosa
hitting a two-run double and Ron Coomer adding an RBI single.
Later, Bill Mueller, Eric Young and Rondell White had
run-scoring singles, putting the Cubs ahead 6-2.
Tavarez (2-3) pitched three innings, giving up six hits and two
runs. Giants starter Kirk Rueter (0-4) pitched one inning and gave
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