Following the Chicago Cubs' 3-0 win over the St. Louis Cardinals on Thursday, the benches cleared after a heated exchange between the Cubs' closer and former catcher.

St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Willson Contreras apologized to the Chicago Cubs for his reaction to a ninth-inning hit-by-pitch that was followed by a bench-clearing situation after the final out of Thursday's 3-0 loss.

Cubs reliever Daniel Palencia pounded his chest and let out a few celebratory shouts following a game-ending strikeout of Nolan Gorman on Thursday afternoon. Palencia then spun on the mound and looked toward first base,