[quote] VERO BEACH, Fla. (AP) -- Mets catcher Mike Piazza and Los Angeles reliever Guillermo Mota got into a shoving match and both benches cleared Thursday during New York's 5-1 victory over a Dodgers split squad.
Mota, acquired from Montreal last week, hit Piazza in the backside with a 3-0 pitch in the seventh inning.
Piazza gave Mota an angry look and was replaced by a pinch runner. Piazza remained on the Mets' bench rather than head to the clubhouse.
But when Mota passed the Mets' bench on his way to the clubhouse in the middle of the eighth, Piazza confronted him, grabbed him by the shirt and the shoving started.
``Right now, I can't say anything,'' Piazza said after being hit by a pitch for the fourth time this spring. ``Give me a day or two and I'll talk about it.''
The episode continued a turbulent start to Mota's career with the Dodgers. Recently traded from Montreal, he faced the Expos a day earlier and gave up six runs without retiring a batter.
``I don't want to talk about it,'' Mota said. ``These last couple of days here have been unbelievable.''
Way to go, Mike!!!!!He's been beaned four times during the spring training.
Piazza