CINCINNATI -- In the hours between Tuesday’s brawl-interrupted win over the Reds and Wednesday’s series finale at Great American Ball Park, players popped into Pirates manager Clint Hurdle’s office to give their support. Hurdle offered a sincere thank you to hitting coach Rick Eckstein, who defended him during the fracas. He spoke to Pirates general manager Neal Huntington about the day's Trade Deadline and potential fallout from the fight. Hurdle also called Joe Torre, Major League Baseball's chief baseball officer, to discuss what happened.

One person he won’t be having a conversation with, it seems, is David Bell. The Reds manager was critical of Hurdle and the entire Pirates team for purposefully pitching up and in, saying on Tuesday night, “It’s a shame that is allowed and they’re able to get away with it. They celebrate it. They support it. They clearly allow it.”

Hurdle adamantly disagreed with that idea, defending his team and himself.

“We, as an organization, have never condoned throwing fastballs at guys’ heads or pitching up and in,” Hurdle said on Wednesday. “Those things can happen. I’ve never told a pitcher to throw at someone’s head. [Pitching coach Ray Searage] has never told a pitcher to throw at someone’s head.

“The comments that I have heard to some degree that this is something we teach, this is something we condone, could not be more far from the truth. I want to be very factual with that.”

To that end, Hurdle said he would have a conversation with reliever Keone Kela, who admitted he threw a pitch over Derek Dietrich’s head on Tuesday “to show my intent with my pitch and to pretty much let Dietrich know that I didn’t necessarily agree with the way things went down.” The Reds obviously took issue with Kela’s intent.

“I’ve had to put some thought into this because I can’t change anybody’s perception," Hurdle said. "But I can let my actions speak to be an advocate for trying to make this better and getting it out of the way of the game, because this is not why we play the game. I’ve called Joe [Torre] today and shared some thoughts with him.”

After being ejected, Bell returned to the field during the scrum to charge and scream at Hurdle. It took Eckstein tackling Bell and holding him down to keep Bell away from his Pittsburgh counterpart.

“He’s going to think what he thinks. He’s going to feel what he feels,” Hurdle said. “As he was telling me what I was -- you can see the video -- I just said, ‘You have no idea what you’re talking about. You have no idea what you’re talking about.’ We are responsible and accountable for everything that happens as a manager.”

Bell said he was “open to” having a conversation with Hurdle, but didn’t back down from what he called Hurdle Tuesday night.

“I told him exactly how I felt about it,” Bell said on Wednesday. “Unfortunately, that's how I feel when that happens to your team, your family, anybody.”

Trainer’s room

• Opening Day starter Jameson Taillon (forearm/elbow) was seen by Dr. David Altchek earlier this week, but Pirates director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk said the Pirates are “still processing and gathering the intel” to decide what comes next for Taillon. The right-hander is likely bound for surgery that will officially end his season, but Tomczyk said they are assessing whether continued conservative care is the best path forward.

• Left-hander Steven Brault (shoulder) will make a five-inning rehab start on Thursday for Triple-A Indianapolis. Infielder Erik Gonzalez (collarbone/hamstring) is playing with no restrictions as he continues his rehab assignment.

• Right fielder Gregory Polanco (shoulder) will resume baseball activities in the “coming days,” Tomczyk said.

• Catcher Francisco Cervelli (concussion) is ramping up his catching activities, but he still is not cleared to play in games. Cervelli will be reexamined by club physicians later this week.

• Right-hander Clay Holmes (triceps) will throw a simulated game on Friday. Right-hander Rookie Davis (forearm) will do the same later this week in Bradenton, Fla. Prospect J.T. Brubaker (elbow), who is also rehabbing in Bradenton, has not yet been cleared to throw.