In a highly anticipated matchup between the St. Louis Cardinals and the Chicago Cubs, tensions reached a boiling point in the first inning. Cardinals pitcher Miles Mikolas found himself at the center of controversy after hitting Cubs outfielder Ian Happ with a pitch. The incident occurred after Happ's swing inadvertently struck Cardinals catcher Willson Contreras in the back of the helmet.

The game took a dramatic turn when Mikolas retaliated by throwing a pitch high and inside, narrowly missing Happ. However, on the next pitch, Mikolas made contact with Happ's back, resulting in the ejection of the Cardinals pitcher. The umpires swiftly convened and decided to remove Mikolas from the game without issuing a warning.

The ejection did not sit well with Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol, who also found himself ejected from the game after arguing with the umpires. Marmol expressed his frustration, suggesting that if the umpires believed there was intent behind the first pitch, they should have issued a warning instead of immediately ejecting Mikolas.

The incident marred what was expected to be a thrilling game between the two division rivals. The Cubs went on to win the game 10-3, taking advantage of the Cardinals' vulnerable bullpen. The loss added to the Cardinals' disappointing season, as they continue to struggle to climb above .500.

Following the game, Major League Baseball's Senior Vice President for On-Field Operations, Michael Hill, announced that Mikolas would be suspended for five games and fined an undisclosed amount. The suspension will be held in abeyance as Mikolas appeals the ruling.

Both Happ and Contreras showed sportsmanship despite the heated moment, embracing after the incident. It appeared there were no hard feelings between the two players.

The Cardinals will now have to regroup and find a way to bounce back from the loss as they continue their series against the Cubs. Mikolas, with a record of 6-6 and a 4.38 ERA this season, will be a significant absence for the team during his suspension.

The rivalry between the Cardinals and Cubs remains intense, as evidenced by the events of Thursday night. Despite their current struggles, both teams continue to ignite excitement and passion among their respective fan bases. The incident serves as a reminder that even in a season filled with ups and downs, the rivalry between these two teams remains as fierce as ever.