After a benches-clearing brawl erupted in Sunday’s Major League Baseball game between the Seattle Mariners and the Los Angeles Angels, one fan decided the player at the center of the melee deserved … a pizza.
The fight started when Mariners’ outfielder Jesse Winker was plunked by Angels’ pitcher Andrew Wantz, who had already thrown a pitch behind Julio Rodriguez’s head an inning earlier. The errant pitches were apparently retaliation for one that nearly hit Angels’ superstar Mike Trout in the head on Saturday night.
“If you can’t pitch inside, don’t pitch inside,” Trout told the Orange County Register. “If you’re going to hit me, hit me in the ribs. Don’t hit me in the head.”
Benches clear!!! 👊@Angels | #GoHalos pic.twitter.com/EUnTTcjW1D
— Bally Sports West (@BallySportWest) June 26, 2022
But Winker didn’t wait until after Sunday’s game to complain to the press. He immediately headed toward the LA dugout, prompting both benches to empty. When order was restored, both teams’ managers and six players, including Winker and Wantz, were ejected.
A Mariners fan identified only by her Twitter handle, @sofieballgame, apparently felt bad for Winker and dialed up DoorDash for a pepperoni pizza.
“I just ordered a pizza for Jesse Winker from Mountain Mike’s Pizza in Anaheim,” she tweeted. “You deserve it big guy.”
The delivery address she gave to the deliveryman identified as Simranjeet: 2000 E Gene Autry Way, Anaheim, California.
“Hi Simranjeet! Thank you! When you get to the stadium, please take it any [sic] gate and tell them it’s for the visitors clubhouse, the pizza is for Jesse Winker,” she texted in the app.
Sofie tracked the delivery on Twitter and by the time it arrived, fellow Mariners fans chipped in for a tip for the intrepid driver. Sofie got a thank you from Winker and the Mariners.
“Mariners fans are the best,” the team wrote on its Twitter account. “@Sofieballgame, we have a Jesse Winker jersey from the @MarinersStore we’d love to *deliver* to you. What do you say?”
Mariners fans are the best 💙@sofieballgame, we have a Jesse Winker jersey from the @MarinersStore we’d love to *deliver* to you. What do you say? pic.twitter.com/w6odOwCdn9
— Seattle Mariners (@Mariners) June 27, 2022
The Angels wound up winning the game by a 2-1 score. It was the eighth game between the two teams in less than two weeks.
As for the brawl, both teams are facing likely suspensions because several players were seen punching and even kicking opponents. Those ejected included managers Phil Nevin of the Angels and Scott Servais of the Mariners; Winker, Wantz; Mariners shortstop J.P. Crawford; Rodriguez; and Angels’ relief pitchers Raisel Iglesias and Ryan Tepera.