June 14 (UPI) -- A dangerous duo of costumed creatures got into a scrum before a baseball game Thursday in Sapporo, Japan.
Jushin "Thunder" Liger was on hand to throw out the first pitch before the Hanshin Tigers took on the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters at the Sapporo Dome. The Fighters won the game 11-3.
"Thunder" tossed the offering after giving a brief speech to the crowd. The southpaw settled in against Fighters mascot Frep the Fox. But his offering was anything but innocent. "Thunder" heaved the ball directly at Frep. The fox the charged the mound, eyeing the Japanese professional wrestler for some form of animated retaliation.
The two costumed individuals went push for push as Hashin's To Lucky mascot attempted to intervene. To Lucky patted both of the fighters down -- presumably to check for weapons -- before letting them go at it.
"Thunder" eventually knocked the fox down before showing off some of his wrestling moves to subdue his furry foe. He hit him with a clothesline before winning the match by submission.
試合前ファーストピッチは新日本プロレスの獣神サンダー・ライガー選手(@Liger_NJPW)!…でしたが、思わぬ展開に??#lovefighters #いちばん青い空にしよう #セパ交流戦 #njpw #g128 pic.twitter.com/XKtEcxCMTP
— 北海道日本ハムファイターズ公式 (@FightersPR) June 13, 2018Advertisement
After the game, Liger called the scuffle a "great brawl" with a Twitter post.
The Tigers take on Rakuten at 5 a.m. Friday in Sendai, Japan. The Fighters host Yakult at 5 a.m. Friday in Sapporo.