Exactly nine pitches into Game-1 of the 2013 NLCS, Cardinals right-hander Joe Kelly hit Dodgers shortstop Hanley Ramirez with a 95-MPH fastball in what would become the defining moment of the series, as it took out the Dodgers best hitter with a fractured rib. While some still argue that it was intentional, it probably was not.

…or was it?

Fast forward to July 20, 2014. The Cardinals are hosting the Dodgers at Busch Stadium and in the top of the fourth inning Cardinals right-hander Carlos Martinez hit Hanley Ramirez with a 98-MPH fastball on his left shoulder, high on his left shoulder – near his head.

It’s one thing to hit a batter, but when you hit a batter near the head, you can expect retaliation.
(Photo credit – Tom Gannam)

As expected, Dodgers ace Clayton had had enough and in the bottom of the inning, he hit Cardinals slugger Matt Holliday “right on the wallet” (as Vin Scully would say) with a 95-MPH fastball. Although Kershaw never came right out an admitted that it was intentional, there is zero doubt that it was and it brought warnings from home plate umpire Ed Hickox, as it should have.

“I have a ton of respect for Matt Holliday and the way he plays the game, that’s all I’m going to say about that,” Kershaw told reporters after the game. “But what I will say is, though, it’s tough when you see Hanley get hit so many times. It’s one thing to miss in but when you’re missing up and in at a guys face like that, that’s really scary, you know. I’m pretty sure he wasn’t doing it on purpose but when you throw that hard you need to have a better idea where the ball is going.”

After the warnings that should have been it – you hit my guy, I hit your guy, end of story. The Baseball Codes had been met and it was over with – period.

…or so you would think.

In the top of the ninth inning Cardinals closer Trevor Rosenthal, who is known for his exceptional control, hit Ramirez again, this time on the left hand with a 99-MPH fastball forcing Ramirez out of the games and causing him to miss the next three games. Was it intentional? Apparently Ed Hickox didn’t think so because he did not eject Rosenthal or Cardinals manager Mike Matheny, which poses the obvious question – why even issue warnings if you are not going to follow through with them.

As it turned out, Ramirez being hit set up the eventual winning run with Rosenthal suffering the 4-3 loss.

And what did Ramirez have to say about Kershaw protecting him?

“He’s a soldier, man.”

The point to all of this is that Trevor Rosenthal unsettled a settled score. Not only did he hit a batter in apparent retaliation for Holliday being hit by Kershaw, he hit Hanley Ramirez who is not known as “a diver” (one who leans in on inside pitches). In fact, Ramirez was hit only six times all season – three times by the Giants, once by the Rockies and twice by the Cardinals (not counting Game-1 of the 2013 NLCS).

Although the stakes are extremely high in postseason play, there’s a pretty good chance that under the right circumstances, the Dodgers will re-settle the score.

Oh, by the way, Clayton Kershaw is starting for the Dodgers on Friday against the Cardinals.

Just sayin.