ST. LOUIS -- Both benches cleared in the top of the fifth inning of Game 1 of the NL Championship Series Wednesday night after Kenny Lofton took exception to a high-and-tight pitch.

	Lofton

An angry Barry Bonds also was in the middle of the scrum, and managers Dusty Baker and Tony La Russa had a heated exchange before peace was restored. No punches were thrown, and warnings were issued to both teams.

"My job is to protect my teammates, and I will neutralize it, that's that,'' Bonds said.

La Russa said the high fastball from rookie reliever Mike Crudale was not a purpose pitch after Lofton took his time running the bases on a home run in his previous at-bat in the third.

"It's a trick I've seen him pull before, caused a lot of stirring around and people saying nasty things to each other,'' La Russa said. "You throw the ball inside and he's always reacting like you're trying to hit him. It was really unnecessary.''

Several Cardinals players also wondered why Lofton got so excited.

"We got a pitch inside and we're going to pitch inside all series long,'' catcher Mike Matheny said. "I guess he thought that got a little too close. I didn't think it was that close.

"I said that to the umpire and (Lofton) thought I was off-base.''

Lofton, the Giants' leadoff hitter, began the game 2-for-2 with a home run, a walk, a stolen base and three runs scored. He took a long look at his homer and tossed his bat away.

In the fifth, Lofton yelled at Crudale after the reliever's pitch backed him off the plate.

"After the guy hits the home run and people are upset, they usually throw the first pitch up and in,'' Lofton said. "That's what they did.''

Lofton didn't think he overreacted.

"When Jim Edmonds hit a home run against Randy Johnson, he started pointing in the dugout,'' Lofton said. "I didn't do none of that.''

Lofton's teammates backed him up.

"I just think it was retaliation, sort of,'' Giants shortstop Rich Aurilia said. "You don't throw at somebody's head, that's not right. It riled them up a little bit when it happened, but we hung on and won the game.''

Matheny stepped in front of Lofton and began yelling back, then players from both sides converged near home plate in a game the Giants led 7-1.

Several players and San Francisco pitching coach Dave Righetti had to restrain Lofton.

"That's what made him mad. Matheny said something,'' St. Louis pitcher Andy Benes was overheard telling a teammate in the dugout.

Baker and La Russa shouted at each other as players from both sides kept them apart.

But after the game, Baker minimized the exchange.

"I mean, what thing with Tony?'' Baker said. "If there had been a thing, somebody would have thrown some blows or something. There was no thing. We had a discussion.''