Barry Zito hit Prince Fielder in the back with his first pitch in apparent retaliation for Fielder's staged "bowling pin" celebration after his homer ended a Sept. 6 game in Milwaukee.
As Fielder began his trot to first base, he picked the ball off the ground and dismissively flipped it toward Zito.
Home-plate umpire Ted Barrett seemed to say something to Zito, but he did not warn the benches.
Anthony Witrado of the Journal-Sentinel asked Fielder if the celebration was worth the ball in the back.
?Hell yeah,? Fielder said. ?That?s something I did with me and my teammates. It has nothing to do with them.?
?You?re damn right it was worth it.?
Zito Hits Fielder In Apparent 'Bowling Pin' Retaliation