Video: Mets, Brewers Benches Clear After Rhys Hoskins' Slide on Jeff McNeil

Benches cleared in the eighth inning of the Opening Day matchup between the host New York Mets and visiting Milwaukee Brewers after Mets second baseman Jeff McNeil took exception to Brewers first baseman Rhys Hoskins' slide.

McNeil stood over Hoskins and angrily gestured at him after Hoskins overslid the bag and knocked into the second baseman's left leg.

Hoskins didn't acknowledge McNeil initially and ran back to the dugout. McNeil kept yelling at Hoskins, who fired back at his opponent with a crying motion.

The new Brewer explained his side of the story afterward.

"I'm just trying to play baseball, right?" Hoskins said, per SNY's Robert Sanchez.

"We got a chance in the eighth with a runner on to tack on another run and the last thing I want to do is give them a clear lane to make a double play. McNeil took excuse to my slide, but I didn't really think much of it to be honest. I ended up hitting him, but that's what happens with a slow developing play and I was trying to make sure he doesn't turn a double play."

He also explained his actions in the immediate aftermath of the play.

"I kind of laid there afterward...I was just letting whatever McNeil needed to get out, let him get it out and I just saw it and ran off the field after that and then got to see everybody on the team out there so I don't really have much else to be completely honest with you."

Hoskins also noted that McNeil had a "few choice words" for him afterward. The former Philadelphia Phillie, who has played McNeil and the Mets a lot over the years, also added some historical context from his perspective, per Sanchez.

"I've played in this ballpark a bunch and he just seems to be complaining when things aren't going well and I think that's one of those moments. Maybe lost in the heat of the game a little bit, but again I think it's just playing the game hard and playing the game the right way."

McNeil offered few words after the game:

Neither player was ejected, Hoskins was called out and the game continued. Milwaukee won 3-1 after one-hitting the Mets.

On the SNY telecast, Mets play-by-play broadcaster Gary Cohen called it a clean slide "by the letter of the law." Former Mets pitcher and current analyst Ron Darling then added that McNeil took exception to Hoskins sliding into his left leg, which folded during the slide and could have been seriously injured.

Ultimately, umpires ruled that Hoskins' slide was legal upon further review. McNeil did drop the ball post-slide, but the umpire said he lost it on the transfer trying to throw out Willy Adames at first.

Nothing came of the bench-clearing aside from the usual posturing and trash-talking, and neither side had any players ejected.

As for the game, the Brewers used eight hits to plate their three runs, most notably a Christian Yelich solo shot. Only three Mets runners reached base off a Starling Marte solo home run and walks via Francisco Lindor and D.J. Stewart, who was promptly back-picked by catcher William Contreras.

Milwaukee and the Mets are back at it in New York on Saturday at 1:40 p.m. ET.