Friday night’s clash between the Houston Astros and Los Angeles Angels was already set to be a tense AL West showdown — but nobody expected Zach Neto’s boiling point to steal the spotlight in the third inning.

With one out and a man on second, Angels shortstop Zach Neto took a 94.8 mph sinker to the hands from Astros starter Hunter Brown. Instantly livid, Neto barked at Brown, yelling “That’s twice!”, reminding everyone that Brown had drilled him once before, back in 2023.

Brown wasn’t having it. He fired back with a flurry of colorful language, telling Neto to stop crowding the plate, triggering benches and bullpens to empty. For a few tense moments, players and coaches swarmed the infield — but to the relief of managers and umpires, fists stayed holstered and both instigators were ushered back to neutral corners.

Despite the blow-up, Neto stayed in the game, advancing to second after a Mike Trout walk, but the Angels couldn’t capitalize — Brown ended the threat with a routine groundout from Taylor Ward.

In the end, the Astros emerged victorious 3-2 in extra innings, handing the Angels their first extra-innings defeat of the season. Brown’s performance proved his grit under pressure: five innings, just two hits and one earned run, with four strikeouts and two walks. His American League-best ERA now sits at a razor-sharp 1.88 through 15 starts.

For Neto, Friday’s plunking is more proof that his aggressive batting stance courts danger. Despite standing just 5-foot-11 and 185 pounds, he ranks ninth in the majors for hit-by-pitches since debuting in 2023 — racking up 36 bruises and counting.

He’s admitted before that getting beaned is part of his on-base strategy: “In college they tell us, ‘Don’t move your feet.’ If the pitch is there and it hits you then it’s a free base… on-base percentage goes up.”

On Friday, though, his free base came with fireworks — and a clear message that Hunter Brown won’t be giving him the inside corner without a fight.