Benches clear in Game 3 of NLCS

LOS ANGELES -- Both benches and bullpens cleared Sunday night in Game 3 of the NL championship series, moments after Los Angeles Dodgers starter Hiroki Kuroda threw a pitch over Shane Victorino's head.

Plate umpire Mike Everitt immediately warned both teams following Kuroda's third-inning pitch, apparently an attempt to retaliate for Philadelphia's Brett Myers throwing behind Manny Ramirez in Game 2.

Victorino shouted at Kuroda while pointing at his own head and upper body as if to say: "It's OK to throw at my body, but not my head."

After Victorino grounded out to first base to end the inning, he and Kuroda exchanged words. Players spilled onto the field, but no punches were thrown and nobody was ejected.

Dodgers third base coach Larry Bowa and Phillies first base coach Davey Lopes appeared to be two of the angriest participants in the near-scuffle, yelling at each other before the teams cleared the field. Ramirez also came in from left field to bark at the Phillies and had to be restrained by teammates, manager Joe Torre and an umpire.

Myers threw behind Ramirez in the first inning of Game 2 on Friday, and Los Angeles' Russell Martin was brushed back as well. Soft-tossing Phillies starter Jamie Moyer hit Martin with a pitch in the first inning of Game 3, and reliever Clay Condrey knocked down the Dodgers' catcher in the second.

Victorino and Martin yelled at each other after Kuroda's high-and-tight pitch, with Victorino clearly upset about the pitch being over his head rather than just inside.

The Phillies won the first two games in the best-of-seven series, but the Dodgers held a 6-1 lead in Game 3 when the benches cleared occurred.

The Phillies and Dodgers don't have a recent history of animosity, unlike Boston and Tampa Bay, the ALCS participants. The Red Sox and Rays have played two peaceful games in their series after a nasty brawl in June.