Joe Blanton and pitching coach Mike Butcher had a heated exchange - MLB

Joe Blanton allowed four runs in four-plus innings of work this afternoon, ending his first half with a 5.53 ERA, the second-worst mark in the American League behind Wade Davis at 5.89. After Blanton was taken out after allowing the first three batters he faced in the fifth inning to reach base on a single, a walk, and a double, Blanton threw a temper tantrum in the dugout and got into a heated argument with pitching coach Mike Butcher. Teammates had to separate the two and the situation ultimately resolved without any further aggression.

Mike DiGiovanna tweeted about the incident:

Blanton-Butcher fracas stemmed from “miscommunication” between Blanton and C Chris Iannetta, but Iannetta wouldn’t elaborate. #Angels

— Mike DiGiovanna (@MikeDiGiovanna) July 14, 2013

#Angels P Joe Blanton: “Any time things are not going good it can bring things to a little volcano.”

— Mike DiGiovanna (@MikeDiGiovanna) July 14, 2013

#Angels P coach Mike Butcher said he was playing peacemaker between Blanton and Iannetta. Didn’t provoke Blanton.

— Mike DiGiovanna (@MikeDiGiovanna) July 14, 2013

You can also watch a clip of the incident on Instagram. (Tip of the cap to Jeff Fletcher.)

The Angels wrapped up their first half with a sweep at the hands of the Mariners, losing 4-3 today. They sit at 44-49, 11 games behind the first-place Athletics in the AL West.

LOS ANGELES — Los Angeles Dodgers reliever Joe Kelly had his suspension for throwing pitches near the heads of Houston hitters reduced to five games on appeal.

Kelly was originally penalized eight games by Major League Baseball on July 29, a day after throwing a 96 mph fastball near the head of Houston’s Alex Bregman and two curveballs that brushed back Carlos Correa.

The Dodgers on Wednesday confirmed the reduced penalty.

Kelly went on the 10-day injured list retroactive to last Sunday with right shoulder inflammation. He will serve his suspension when he returns.

After striking out Corea, Kelly curled his lip into a pouting expression and exchanged words with the shortstop.

Benches cleared after Kelly’s actions during the sixth inning of Los Angeles’ 5-2 win at Houston in the teams’ first meeting since it was revealed the Astros stole signs en route to a 2017 World Series title over the Dodgers.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts served his one-game suspension the same day the penalty was handed down. Astros manager Dusty Baker was fined an undisclosed amount.

Kelly denied that he purposely threw at the Astros. He has previously been suspended in his career for throwing at a batter.

The penalties were imposed by former pitcher Chris Young, MLB’s senior vice president of baseball operations, who issued his first ruling since taking over the job from Joe Torre.